JFB Urges Professional Guidance Before Generator Purchases

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is urging householders to seek professional guidance before purchasing generators, to ensure that the equipment is properly suited to their needs.

The call came from Acting Senior Superintendent of the JFB, Emeleo Ebanks, during his participation in a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ organised by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) as part of activities marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).

The Day will be observed on Tuesday, October 13, under the global theme, ‘Resilience Starts at Home’.

Mr. Ebanks told JIS News that checks conducted by the JFB have revealed that many individuals purchase generators without first consulting a licensed and certified electrician to assess their needs and determine the appropriate equipment for the intended use.

He emphasised that seeking professional guidance when purchasing a generator is part of the broader responsibility of householders to take practical measures to reduce risks in their homes.

“We have been saying that resilience starts at home, and as a country we have to prepare together,” Mr. Ebanks further stated.

Meanwhile, the JFB is advising householders to operate generators outdoors and at least 25 feet away from their homes, with exhaust pipes directed away from windows and doors to prevent harmful fumes from entering the dwelling.

Improper placement can expose occupants to carbon monoxide, a colourless, odourless and potentially deadly gas.

As ODPEM and its partners prepare to observe IDDRR 2026, they remain committed to raising awareness of household exposure to hazards such as hurricanes, floods, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts and fires, while encouraging practical preparedness and risk-reduction measures to enhance resilience and safeguard lives and property.