Executive promises to purchase additional tenders and tankers to boost Fire Department’s fleet to meet demands of new construction

The Cabinet Notes of July 4 report that the Fire Department chief and his
deputy were invited to meet with the Executive to discuss the need for
additional fire tenders as more shopping malls and office buildings are
constructed.

According to the Notes, the distances of these buildings from the Fire
Department also means that a larger number of trucks will be required if
response time is to be reduced. Therefore, the Cabinet has agreed to five
additional tenders: one each for St. John’s, Cobbs Cross, All Saints, and
Johnsons Point and one for the airport.

On the matter of water capacity, the Fire Department officials reportedly
explained that larger firetrucks and with greater capacity are the slower and
present more difficulty for their drivers as they maneuver on the island’s
narrow streets.

Therefore, they recommended the purchase of firetrucks that carry up to
1,000 gallons of water, and that more water-tank trucks with a carrying
capacity of 2,500 gallons be acquired and connected to the various fire
stations.

The Cabinet Notes say that two tankers will also be purchased for the Fire
Department. Fill-up points for the trucks and these tankers reportedly were
discussed, and it was agreed that more of these points will have to be created
to ensure these vehicles are always ready.

Given the firetrucks crisis of 2022 and the time it took the Browne
Administration to provide the Fire Department with the tenders it now has,
some residents say they will not expect additional trucks anytime soon.