Bush Fires Major Concern for JFB

Despite a decline in bush fires across the country last year, Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford, says these incidents remain a major concern for his team.

Approximately 4,523 bush fires were recorded in 2024, reflecting a 30 per cent decrease compared to the 6,443 recorded in 2023.

However, Commissioner Beckford told JIS News in an interview, that bush fires continue to dominate emergency fire responses.

“Over the last five years, bush fires have become our number-one response in terms of emergency calls. In 2023, they represented 56 per cent of all fires we responded to, and in 2024, that number was still significant at 46.5 per cent. The truth is, most of these bush fires are preventable, as they are primarily caused by human activity,” he told JIS News.

Commissioner Beckford said St. Catherine is a key area of concern, with the parish recording the highest number of bush fires in 2024, totalling 1,170, or 25.8 per cent of all such incidents. He attributed the rise in bush fires in the region to increased development, including new highways that have opened up the parish to greater activity.

“If you travel along those highways, that is where you see a lot of bush fires taking place. We have subsistence farmers still using slash-and-burn techniques, something we strongly discourage.

Additionally, motorists who smoke along the highway often discard cigarette butts without properly extinguishing them. These lands are on tinder-dry vegetation, sparking fires that spread rapidly due to strong winds,” the Commissioner said.

He warned that these fires pose significant risks beyond property damage, stressing that thick blankets of smoke can create traffic hazards, reducing visibility and leading to accidents.

To address the issue, the JFB has partnered with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and community groups to educate farmers on safer land-clearing methods, such as mulching, rather than the dangerous practice of slash-and-burn.

Commissioner Beckford also urged the public to be mindful of their surroundings and exercise caution when disposing of flammable materials.

“Using fire to get rid of waste is not the solution. We have seen cases where burning rubbish has led to bush fires or even the destruction of nearby properties. Also, we have seen too many homes destroyed, because someone thought burning a wasp nest was a good idea,” he said.

Commissioner Beckford said the JFB remains committed to reducing bush fires through education and prevention efforts but stressed that public cooperation is also critical.