JFB Urges Personal Responsibility for Fire Safety After Earthquakes

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is urging citizens to assume personal responsibility for fire safety, particularly in the aftermath of an earthquake.

This call comes as the country prepares to observe Earthquake Awareness Week, from January 11 to 17, under the theme ‘Resilient Jamaica: We Weather the Storm and Brace for the Shake’.

Speaking during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, JFB Public Education Officer, Superintendent Emeleo Ebanks, cautioned that emergency responders may be overwhelmed during a major seismic event, underscoring the importance of individuals knowing how to protect themselves.

“In the event of an earthquake, everybody will be calling the Fire Brigade, and we may not be able to get to everyone immediately. It is therefore important for households to have a fire extinguisher and to know how to use it,” he said.

Superintendent Ebanks encourages the public to familiarise themselves with the P-A-S-S method, an internationally recognised technique printed on fire extinguishers and an effective way to respond to small fires.

“The first step is to pull the safety pin. Then you aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not at the flames… focus on what is actually burning,” he said.

The senior JFB officer advises individuals to maintain a safe distance of approximately six feet from the fire before squeezing the operating handle and sweeping the nozzle from side to side to fully cover the burning area.

He also cautions that while offering assistance during emergencies is important, individuals must ensure that their actions do not worsen the situation or place themselves at risk.

Jamaicans are also being encouraged to prepare emergency kits and identify hazards in their homes as part of overall disaster preparedness, particularly as earthquakes remain a perennial hazard.

Earthquake Awareness Week aims to educate the public on preparedness measures to reduce injuries, loss of life, and property damage during seismic events.

Spearheaded by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the week will feature a series of activities designed to engage citizens and strengthen public awareness.