FIRE STATION CONCERNS: Is it the proper location and best fit?

Is the proposed site for construction of the Point Fortin Fire Station, the best suited and free from any sort of kickbacks?

The preceeding question is one being asked by some concerned residents, since it is believed that other more suitable state owned locations are available, which provides faster access to outlying villages. One major concern is whether taxpayers money was used to acquire the plot of land once used to house the Drive-in Cinema, located on Techier Stretch, given that, “Free” state lands were readily available in what some considered to be less complicated locations?

A noted Social Media comment identified ability to respond in a timely manner as an operational concern. The user indicated the coverage area for the Point Fortin fire department spans from Grants Trace Rousilac to Icacos, inclusive of Grand Ravine Forest Reserve and Erin. It was stated that recommendations were made to the Minister of National Security, that rather than spend all the proposed monies into one super station, the peninsula would have been better served with having 3 smaller station, strategically located in Cedros, La Brea and Point Fortin.

One Facebook user pointed to the fact that the current proposed site is prone to flooding and there is the possibility of having to deal with 2 disasters for a single emergency call out. Another Facebook user believed that 9 out of 10 persons would have reasoned that a location along the Dunlop stretch would have been better suited. However, the question remains why was the current location selected, since it takes away from response time. Tenders leaving the proposed site would have to navigate traffic or use a residential area (Techier) with many speed bumps, to get to their emergency location. Some consider this counter progressive since a major element of emergency response is timeliness, where a difference of 5 minutes can either cost or save a life.

Currently, the fire station is housed at a residential property located in the upscale development of Clifton Hill Point Fortin. However, government fire officers are also currently manning the former Petrotrin Fire facilities located on the “Petrotrin” CCR compound. Fire Tenders and Ambulances once belonging to Petrotrin and Trinmar are now manned by government fire officers. It is believed that the “Petrotrin Based” Fire Fighters are more dedicated to handling oil-related situation while those at Clifton Hill operates as normal.

The saga with the Point Fortin fire station began in 2016 when fire officers began voicing their concerns about the delapidated and hazardous state of their facility and the Fire Station was eventually shut down by the Osh Agency because of health and safety breaches.

Also, in December of 2016, then National Security Minister and MP for Point Fortin, Edmund Dillon, visited the old delapidated station and promised that a new station will be built the very next year at a cost of $11m. However, this never materialized. A decision then was taken to temporarily re-locate the station to the bungalow at Clifton Hill.

Still, some residents express positivity relative towards the planned construction and dismissed adverse comments, indicating that the previous Fire Station was in the heart of the town and Tenders had to navigate traffic to get to their emergency. However, It can be considered, not because there was a flaw in a previous functioning operation, means it have to continue being that way.

PointAlive will continue monitoring this development and keep our viewers up to date.