Fire Inspector Walter Evans reported that around 4pm on Sunday officers were dispatched to the bush fire in Adelaide Village. The fire was still burning on Tuesday.
According to Inspector Evans, usually only one fire truck is deployed to extinguish a bush fire, but because of the property threat that the Adelaide fire posed, two fire trucks were deployed to the scene and had to remain on the scene up to Tuesday to tackle the blaze.
Despite the fact that the fire was still burning on Tuesday evening, Inspector Evans said that it was no longer a threat and much of the fire had been extinguished.
Inspector Evans explained that bush fires are usually allowed to burn if accessing the source of the blaze is difficult or potentially harmful.
“Most fires like this one, fire officials would have to monitor them until they reach closer for them to tackle. Another way would be to get a tractor or other machinery to cut an access road. However, for this fire the heavy machinery was not possible because the fire is on swamp land,” Mr. Evans said.
He added that the firemen had to work swiftly because the blaze posed a threat to a nearby church and also to the Adelaide Primary School, but classes were not disrupted as a result of the fire, he indicated.
“When you have fire burning where there is massive bush or massive area of undeveloped land, the fire may have started deep inland and there is tremendous difficulty for the fire services to gain access to the root of the fire,” Mr. Evans said.
“We had to take the necessary precautions to safeguard any equipment and human lives. This is why the fire was allowed to burn for the few days.”
On Sunday and Monday half of the operational fleet of the fire branch was dispatched to assist in extinguishing the blaze, according to Inspector Evans.
“This is the dry season and we are coming to the end of it. This is when most bush fires occur and generally they occur where there is massive land or bush. We see this not only in New Providence, but also in the Family Islands,” Inspector Evans said.
He added that the firemen’s first order of business is to protect lives and then their next obligations is to protect property.
“Fortunately, no lives were threatened, but properties were threatened and so all our emphasis was placed on protecting the nearby buildings,” Inspector Evans explained.
“We know this is providing some discomfort and that is why all efforts are being made to have the necessary resources deployed out there to minimize any inconveniences and to prevent any health hazards that can occur.”
On Sunday, fire officials reported that the blaze resulted in smoke circulating in the area. However, attempts at that time to contain the blaze proved fruitless as the fire continued to spread before officials were able to pinpoint where the fire had started.
From January to March fire officials recorded 197 fires; this figure is just one incident short of the number reported during the same period last year.
January to May is considered the peak season for bush fires.
By: Bianca Symonette, The Bahama Journal
