Fire Brigade to conduct further assessments of child care facilities

The Jamaica Fire Brigade will be conducting further assessments of  the island's child care facilities to ensure they are in compliance with safety standards.

All of  the homes were initially assessed and provided with recommendations for improving fire safety practices, which are being implemented by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency. 

The follow-up inspections will evaluate the extent of  the facilities' preparedness, in the event of  a fire.

The exercise will form part of  activities marking Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week which started yesterday.

According to Acting Deputy Commissioner of  the Fire Brigade, Sean Martin, the inspections will serve to improve child care facilities' safety practices.

He said the team is working with the homes to develop evacuation drills.

 The Acting Deputy Commissioner, who was speaking with JIS News following the launch of  Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week in Kingston on Friday said the inspections are expected to be completed by the end of  November.

Meanwhile, according to data,   since 2009, a total of  88 youngsters have lost their lives to fires in Jamaica. 

These include the two tragic incidents this year at the Walker's Place of  Safety and a house in Olympic Gardens, St. Andrew. 

Today members of  the Fire Brigade will visit the Rudolph Lopez School of  Hope in Portland to install fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, and also teach the students how to use fire safety equipment.