JFB Urges Heightened Safety Awareness This Christmas

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is urging citizens to exercise increased caution this Christmas season, as holiday activities pose elevated fire risks.

Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank on December 9, Public Education Officer at the JFB, Superintendent Emeleo Ebanks, informed that fire incidents typically rise during the holidays but this year requires even more vigilance given the challenges brought on by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

“We will have to look at a two-pronged approach as to how we are approaching Christmas. Normally, the incidence of fires, especially structural fires, increases at Christmas. For example, last year we had 771 structural fires for the month of November, and that number jumped to 901 at the end of December,” said Mr. Ebanks.

He noted that with children at home on holidays and households cooking and baking more frequently, the potential for fire-related incidents tends to increase.

“We want to remind persons of basic safety tips that can avoid these kinds of situations [that] is now compounded by the fact that we just had the passage of Hurricane Melissa,” said Superintendent Ebanks.

He further pointed out that activities synonymous with the Christmas season, such as cooking, baking, decorating and merrymaking, all have their peculiar challenges.

In highlighting cooking, Mr. Ebanks stressed the importance for constant monitoring in the kitchen.

“Never leave cooking unattended, make sure that there is someone in the vicinity that is looking over,” he said.

He further indicated that if a pot is left unattended and its contents spill over onto the stovetop, the spilled food or liquid can ignite and start a fire. Similarly, food left in the oven will dry out over time and once the moisture is gone, it may lead to a fire.