A fire broke out at the Caribbean Dockyard in Chaguaramas on July 5, involving a container of stored rolls of fibreglass. The Fire Service (TTFS) received the call at 9.08am and officers from the Four Roads Fire Station quickly responded. They were aided by a water tanker from the Wrightson Road Fire Station as they fought the blaze without protective breathing apparatus (BA) sets.
Keone Guy, president of the Fire Association, criticized the lack of essential safety equipment, stating that sending firefighters into such dangerous situations without BA sets was akin to a slow march to the gallows. Videos circulating on social media showed firefighters battling thick smoke without proper respiratory protection, prompting Guy to express concerns about the well-being of the firefighting community.
Guy also pointed out that the firefighting community was grieving the loss of another officer to cancer, a consequence he attributed to long-term exposure to smoke inhalation. The situation is still developing, with more information expected to come to light as the investigation continues.
