The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is increasing the use of technology and advancing training to improve its response to earthquakes and other disasters.
JFB Assistant Commissioner, Alrick Hacker, shared that the Drone Unit, which was being piloted up to last year, is now operational.
Addressing the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Earthquake Awareness Month Press Launch on Tuesday (January 16) at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston, he said drones are used to assist with surveillance for search-and-rescue exercises, fires and other emergency situations.
“It’s an asset in that the initial assessment can take place in areas that are remote, instead of mobilising the unit and team to a location where they might not be needed,” Mr. Hacker said.
He disclosed that the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that rocked Jamaica on October 30, 2023, revealed that there is a need for more trained fire safety inspectors.
“We were overwhelmed with requests to do damage assessments to see if the buildings are safe for persons to re-enter. So we are also training more fire safety inspectors amongst cross training of our staff,” Mr. Hacker informed.
The Assistant Commissioner also noted that the JFB’s light-level rescue technique training, which covers the removal of debris and use of hand tools, is being revisited.
“We are currently working with our training department to revisit that training programme, to continue it among our staff and the various community groups that we work with. From our perspective, that training will include more command and control functions towards the firefighters, because we realise that they tend to be overwhelmed with the number of citizens who are in need of help,” he said.
