Fire fire

We warn that the State must take pre-emptive action. It must reform the regulation of safety standards in the city as well as the nation. If the embers are not doused, a major conflagration could ensue.

It will be a perpetual case of fire fire, in our wire wire – to paraphrase Calypso Rose.

On Monday, two months after fire damaged the old Social Development Ministry building off Independence Square in Port-of-Spain, the same building caught fire. But this time, the blaze gutted the entire structure. This came mere weeks after the landmark Mas Camp Pub (De Nu Pub) was engulfed by fire in a separate incident. Surrounding buildings were also damaged.

Amid much speculation, the causes of both fires are not yet clear.

Do they relate to weather conditions which have been unbearably hot in some quarters? Were they electrical? Were they caused by specific actions? Did sprinkler systems go off? Did alarms go off? Were such basic measures even in place? As a city, Port-of-Spain has too often been damaged by fire. In 1808, a major fire destroyed most of the wooden buildings and houses of the capital. The merchants of the town rebuilt them with stone from the Laventille quarry.

In 1897, there was another fire on lower Frederick Street, resulting in architect George Brown designing and supervising the building of “The Stores.” Complete with iron banisters, plate glass windows, mezzanines and lantern roofs, they were fashionable and durable.

Some of this architectural heritage is still evident today. Major fires also included those relating to the Water Riots of 1903 – the anniversary of which was observed this month – and the 1990 terrorist attack on the capital by the Jamaat al Muslimeen.

Whatever the causes of the two most recent fires, it is clear enough there are not enough measures in place.

Buildings need to have smoke detectors which can pick up the start of a fire early, and also trigger measures to douse the flames.

While the old Social Development Ministry building was already damaged, this does not absolve the State of responsibility. The damaged structure should have been secured. Its location in the heart of the city, close to residential quarters and business places, meant untold harm could have ensued if the fire had spread further.

We are also cognizant of the fact that building codes are relevant to the issue of fire safety, inclusive of appropriate evacuation design.

All in all, the situation does not look promising. The Parliament has heard – under a previous administration – that the city is not ready in the event of a major fire.

With many skyscrapers in the vicinity of the central business district, an audit of fire preparedness is a must.

But the problem extends beyond the capital.

Sunday’s tragic case of the Wilson family in Arima is a reminder of just how easily a fire can turn deadly. A toddler, who had initially been rescued, managed to end up back inside the family home.

Neighbours alerted the Arima Fire Station. However, trucks were at the scene of a nearby bush fire and were unable to respond immediately to the blaze.

We have to be sensitive to the configuration of our capital city and to ensure that the Fire Service has the requisite tools to battle there and elsewhere. Otherwise the price we will pay will continue to be too high.