Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

A man points to some of the shops at the Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay which were razed by fire on Monday. - Photo by Sheena Gayle

WESTERN BUREAU:

St James firefighters are baffled by a significant increase in fires there despite intense public education and prevention campaigns to head off tragedies.

Vincent Allen, assistant super-intendent in charge of the Fire Prevention Unit in St James, said 75 fires were reported in the parish for the months of September and October.

Outbreaks

October recorded the lion's share of outbreaks, 50, he told The Gleaner.

"The fire figures are trending up from last year. We have been on the road with our public education campaign on fire safety and prevention, but the month of October doesn't normally record a lot of fires, so I'm at a loss," Allen explained.

Fire of unknown origin ravaged 10 shops inside the Charles Gordon Market in the parish capital Montego Bay early yesterday (Monday) morning. The fire department was unable to estimate the cost of damage.

Lack of manpower

Allen revealed that there were 562 fires from January to August, representing a 23 per cent rise over last year's figures which stood at 428 for the corresponding period.

Lack of manpower in the Fire Prevention Unit, according to Allen, has hampered efforts to conduct more sweeping sensitisation programmes throughout St James.

The Jamaica Fire Brigade concluded its Fire Safety Awareness Week on Sunday.

Tragedy

Just last Monday, St James was hit by another fire tragedy when four-year-old Renee Brown was killed.

Little Renee perished at her Upper King Street home in Montego Bay when her stepfather reportedly forgot to take her outside when the fire began.

Data from the St James Fire Department indicate that seven children have been injured in blazes and 47 made homeless during the January-August period.