Jamaica Fire Service offers forest fire investigation training in Antigua and Barbuda | News

The Jamaica Fire Service recently visited Antigua and Barbuda to conduct forest and bush fire investigation training as part of the Natural Infrastructure for Caribbean Resilience (NICaR) program in collaboration with the United States Forest Service (USFS).

The training was conducted in the area of ​​wildfire investigation for key stakeholders in the country. The focus was on wildfire observation and fire protection for first responders. It was the first training of its kind in the country.

The training was conducted by five wildfire investigation instructors from the Jamaica Fire Brigade and USFS Fire Protection Technician Dawn Sanchez and was another first as it was presented by regional instructors.

The Fire Service’s training team has been involved in the forest fire investigation since 2018. The Level 1 course was attended by around 50 participants, including representatives from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Wallings Nature Reserve Inc., Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs, Ministry of Health and Environment, National Disaster Management Office, Air Traffic Control, non-governmental and other organizations.

Inspector Yvette Henry, head of the Fire Prevention Unit of the Antigua and Barbuda Fire Protection Authority, praised the training for improving the authority’s fire investigation skills and public engagement efforts.

“The NICaR wildfire investigation training was very informative. We learned a lot, including important details to look for when responding to wildfires and insights into fire prevention measures. Through this training, we are better able to identify the causes of fires and better educate the public on wildfire prevention.

“It was a unique opportunity to work with our Caribbean colleagues from different cultures and backgrounds to achieve the common goal of protecting our forests from the destruction of wildfires,” said Christopher Brown, District Officer of the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

Brown, who traveled to Antigua, also noted that regional exchanges “will only strengthen our relationships by building trust and understanding through shared experiences and training.”

The training took place at the same time as the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) meeting in Puerto Rico, which was attended by Kevin Haughton, Deputy Chief of Fire Operations of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, where he was elected Vice President.

In his speech at the training, Haughton highlighted the impact of knowledge sharing from a regional perspective.

“The collaboration between the Jamaica Fire Brigade and the U.S. Forest Service to conduct wildfire investigation training in Antigua and Barbuda is a significant step for regional wildfire investigation capacity,” said Haughton. “This initiative means that fire departments across the Caribbean will adopt advanced techniques and expert knowledge to improve their ability to effectively investigate and suppress wildfires. This training not only improves the skills of local fire investigators, but also fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and professional development across the region. As a result, fire departments across the Caribbean will be better equipped to identify the causes of wildfires, which is critical to prevention and mitigation strategies.”

Haughton also said the training bodes well for future regional partnerships.

“It also sets a precedent for future collaborative fire prevention efforts across the Caribbean. By building a network of well-trained fire inspectors, the region can develop more comprehensive and consistent fire prevention strategies, leveraging collective resources and knowledge. This collaboration paves the way for continuous improvements and innovations in fire prevention, ultimately leading to a safer and more resilient Caribbean in the face of the threat of wildfires.”

The regional training also builds on the hosting of the NICaR Wildland Fire Academy in Jamaica in 2023, which trained 35 firefighters from 13 Caribbean countries.

The NICaR program is implemented by the International Programs Office of the USDA Forest Service with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. NICaR supports 18 organizations in nine Caribbean countries through initiatives to restore mangrove forests, upland forests, and disaster preparedness. In total, grantees have received $577,000 to implement resilience actions.