Bush fires still a concern - JFB

In the last five years, bush fires have become our number one response in terms of emergency calls for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB).

"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," JFB Commissioner Stewart Beckford told JIS News. He noted that despite a 30 per cent decrease in the number of bush fires recorded in 2024 (4,523), compared to 2023 (6,443), there was still cause for concern.

Beckford said St Catherine recorded the highest number of bush fires in 2024, totalling 1,170, or 25.8 per cent. He attributed the rise to increased development, including new highways that have opened up the parish to greater activity.

"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," Beckford said. He warned that aside from property damage, thick blankets of smoke can create traffic hazards, reducing visibility and leading to accidents.

The JFB has partnered with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and community groups to educate farmers on safer land-clearing methods, such as mulching. Beckford also urged the public to be mindful of their surroundings.

"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.