Fire Service Working to Maintain ‘Dated’ Fleet

Deputy Fire Chief Benisford Matura has spoken on the dated fleet of trucks – and how it slowed them down from carrying out the kind of fire-fighting needed to save a family’s home on Iguana Street Extension. Matura says the faulty truck is already in repair and we asked him about the fire service’s readiness should another fire occur in the coming days.

Benisford Matura, Deputy Fire Chief

“Indeed we have our mechanics working on it and trying to remedy the problem. Like I said, it is just a mechanical failure of our vehicles. We are in need of vehicles and we are in the process of trying to acquire better vehicles and we are trying to do our best with.”

Andrea Polanco

“How many vehicles you have right now; how many fire trucks?”

Benisford Matura

Benisford Matura

“Country-wide we have twenty-six fire trucks. We have three based in the City and one in Ladyville for this area.”

Andrea Polanco

“Are you able to say how old these trucks are; how long these trucks have been here?”

Benisford Matura

“I can just say we have some very old trucks. The latest truck we have is the one from the year 2000; that is the one that failed us this morning. So, we have an ageing fleet of trucks.”

Andrea Polanco

“So, should another big fire happen in the city today or tonight or over the weekend, how prepared is the national fire service?”

Benisford Matura

“We are prepared. For right now we have a stand-by truck that is holding the position until the truck gets back on the run.”