The Fire Service yesterday received a $37m Christmas gift of 17 spanking-new vehicles to boost their ability to respond more effectively.
While the president of the Fire Service Association Leo Ramkissoon welcomed the new fleet, he said there was a critical vacancy which needed to be filled to authorise ambulance drivers to operate legally.
In a telephone interview, Ramkissoon said according to Section 23 of the Medical Board Act, all institutions that offer pre-hospital emergency care must be guided by a medical director approved by the Ministry of Health. To date the Fire Service was void of a director, he said.
Ramkissoon said the call for a medical director had been made by the association for over two years after the law came into effect in 2014.
Chief Fire Officer Roosevelt Bruce acknowledged the need for a medical director was of “paramount importance” during the handing over ceremony at the Wrightson Road, headquarters and pleaded with fire officers to be patient.
He said his officers ought to be trained to the level of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), as required by the law, and is hopeful that one day they can be able to train future fire officers to be EMTs.
Responding to questions from the media, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said he could not give a timeframe for when the medical director would be appointed.
He said there have been talks with the Health Minister about the post, which has to be created within the Fire Service. He said that it should happen “within the shortest possible time.”
Asked what was the issue with appointing one, Dillon said that was better answered by Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh, but he would keep working on getting it done.
Ramkisson said apart from the officers operating outside of the law, there were other concerns that needed to be addressed.
He highlighted that in order for the Piarco and ANR Robinson International Airports to maintain their grade 9 status specialised aircraft firefighting equipment was needed at each airport.
He said the current appliances were old and are not adequate, having outlived their usefulness.
Of the 17 vehicles handed over were five water tankers, three water tenders, one emergency tender, a hydraulic platform and seven ambulances, taking the number of ambulances to 25 in the Fire Service.
Bruce said the emergency tender will be sent to Tobago while the Southern Division would receive the hydraulic platform.
He said the hope was one day the Fire Service would be equipped with a heavy-duty wrecker, renovated fire stations and restored fire appliances.
Dillon said the Crown Point and Roxborough fire stations in Tobago, Arouca Fire Station and Lady Hailes in San Fernando were on the cards to be refurbished next year.
He said the ministry also planned to acquire land for the construction of the Point Fortin Fire Station by then.