National Security Minister Dr. Bernard Nottage pledged the government’s commitment to equipping the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s (RBPF) Fire Services Division with the manpower and tools it needs to effectively battle fires as he officially opened Fire Safety Awareness Week.

Dr. Nottage’s remarks came at an official opening ceremony at the Mall at Marathon Monday hours after an early morning fire claimed the lives of six family members.

“The government continues to make the requisite investments to ensure that [the division] has the required manpower, physical infrastructure and access to modern firefighting methodologies techniques and equipment,” he said.

“We have made good on our promise to deliver five new state-of-the-art fire appliances, four 1,000 gallon capacity tanker trucks and one 2,000 gallon water capacity tanker trucks. Three are stationed in New Providence and two are in Grand Bahama.
These vehicles are expected to service Bahamians well into the future.”

Dr. Nottage also announced that recruitment exercises will get underway to increase the complement of officers and provide specialised training.

“My government will increase the level of human resources within Fire Services by recruiting a squad of 30 officers,” he said. “Funding the required police training and fire science, they will be fully equipped to serve our community.”

There have been more than 1,200 fires reported for the year and Dr. Nottage said it is important that there is a considerable decrease in that figure.

This year’s Fire Safety Awareness Week is under the theme “Empowering Persons With Disabilities.”