The Saint Lucia Fire Service (SLFS) has warned against the ‘deliberate and indiscriminate’ setting of fires, describing it as irresponsible and illegal.
According to the SLFS, such fires could cause great loss of life and property.
In addition, the SLFS explained that the indiscriminate setting of fires constitutes a criminal offence, punishable by law.
According to the Saint Lucia Criminal Code, setting an outdoor fire requires legal authorisation.
On March 6, 2023, the Patricia D. James Secondary School in La Clery, Castries, temporarily suspended classes after a raging bushfire poured thick smoke into classrooms.
Students assembled on the La Clery playing field while firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze.
Residents reported seeing smoke billowing from a vacant spot in one of the La Clery lanes shortly before noon and disclosed that a mentally challenged man had started the blaze.
The fire department revealed that in 2018, it responded to 499 bushfires, a whopping 891 in 2019 and 587 in 2020.
In 2021 there were 341 bushfires responses, and 309 last year.
“According to the Saint Lucia Criminal Code, setting an outdoor fire requires legal authorisation.”
Enough of the damn warnings. Start fining and arresting people. That is the only way they will take you jokers seriously. Then tell us about all those barbecue grills around Castries near those wooden huts. I guarantee none of these have authorisation. Castries Fire 3.0 coming soon.
The Environmental authorities appear impotenr to do anything of significance when it comes to the indiscriminate burning of backyard bush, household trash, and other material from dwelling places that aggravate COPD, ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS, and other respertory ailments that plague many Saint Lucians! On any given day, many Lucians have to put up with thoughtless neighbours and heartless persons in their communities who repeatedly burn all kinds of trash in their yards. If the authorities were worth their salt, the would patrol the respective communities and issue tickets for huge fines to those callous citizens who repeatedly burn debris in their yards — and add to the health woes of citizens. Smoke is easy to see — even from far away. So the authorities can’t say they don’t know where indiscriminate backyard burning is taking place every day. And they can’t use the excuse that they don’t get reports. They do. Added to that, they hardly ever answer their phones.
You’ll have been warning people for 50 years. Not one person has been charge and fined. You’ll are a bunch of jokers.
@ Just saying “………….about those Barbecue grills around Castries near those wooden huts…….” I want to express my thanks to you for taking up the cause for that which we consider a potential hazard (1) for a fire outbreak (2) a health outbreak (3) the stench in the Capital City, where Tourist walk around sight seeing.
For heavens sake, don’t we have a Mayor of Castries? don’t we have a M.P. representative? how about the health Department, the Planning Act, a neighbourhood watch? why are people so timid, so caught up in the grip of fear? scared to say something? but of cause its all for the votes of the people on both Political Parties, but it’ll be a different thing when fire burns. (poor ol’ Castries – to God be the glory)