What role does the Fire service play in inspecting Business premises? Are business places compelled by law to have fire extinguisher? where there any in this building? I sincerely hope that those six young life’s were not lost in vain. I hope from here forward the authorities will make sure measure are in place to make sure we don’t ever have another incident like this again.
By the way I am not convince by what the fire chief said, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

“However, he said he would prefer if buildings had a back door rather than have to try and bore holes through walls.” WTF!

He really get and say this for real??? Who gives a s**t what you prefer!! There were no doors so bore holed in the wall!!

I am an overseas bajan and THIS INCIDENT MAKES NO SORT OF SENSE TO ME!!! I FEEL THAT THE FIRE FIGHTERS SHOULD AND COULD HAVE DONE ALOT MORE!!!!! Stop saying your shouldda wouldda coulddas!!! 6 lives were lost because of LAZINESS!!

DI girl father and MR. Babb hadda climb pun di ladder the selves!! NONSENSE MAN!!!! SHAME ON YOU ALL!

This ‘chief’ does not sound convincing.. and that is putting it mildy.  SIX people perished.  SIX!  Yuh mean not even one they couldn’t save? 

I also hope that young people would put the police emergency number on the mobile phones that they love so much and use it in cases of emergencies rather than text their friends to tell them what is happending.  They could end up saving their own life.

i wish i was one a dem repoters caw i wudda ask he straight, you feel that outing fire is de only thing pun you job description? so all that training he had was to only out fire? as a fireman you are suppose to risk your life for the safety of others. i bet if it did one a he family he wudda risk more than both him and de officers lives. doan mind my bajan dialect cause situations like these nuh body doan think bout standard english cause this right here is bare foolishness. Barbados is missing two essentials: GOD and a HEART.

YOU JUST DONT SAY THOSE KIND OF THINGS. To be honest he looks like a mug who would say something like that.

Please Mr. Fire Chief, tell me how you & your men did everything possible to save those lives? I know that you do more than out fires. Barbados is getting just like the USA. We need to improve ourself,yes, but in a positive light not negative one. In the USA, the fire dept. often make rounds on buildings, esp. if there is/was a problem, then they follow-up. The owners have to be in compliance or not they will be charge. Youall need to do that down there. Please don’t let these young lives go in vain. I know there are old buildings in town but make them safer so that this wouldn’t happen again.  changes have to come but in a positive. No emergency route..need some.

A couple of questions I would like to pose on the back of the Fire Chief’s remarks printed.
- Following a supermarket fire in CH CH some years ago, when sprinklers were not readily in evidence and if present, were not functioning, is it the remit of the Fire Service to inspect buildings open to the public, on a regular basis and to make recommendations concerning safety to the proprietors, where necessary?
Were your firemen equipped with up to date breathing apparatus, designed to enter burning, smoke filled buildings to save lives!
Incredible that a public spirited citizen appeared to be more proactive than the professionals present at the weekend’s fire - why!

Jerry Hall - disappointed Bajan
Sutton, Surrey SM1 4HU

Dear mad
Your observations are spot on!
Perhaps the Nation and other Newspapers could become the mouthspiece for ‘concerned overseas bajans’ and pressure the Health and Safety Executive, businesses, the Fire Service Executive, Police,  Civil Defence,  and the Government to institute or update measures to protect and save the lives of bajan citizens in the event of another major conflagration.

Too many excuses are being peddled out regarding lack of - effective fire safety measures, modern fire and rescue equipment and a specialised team, trained and equipped to enter burning, densely smoke filled buildings to bring out people alive.

Now, what was the use of a modern looking ‘turn table’ vehicle present on Friday night, if its hydraulic ladder was not use to access the building from the roof!

Finally Editor, that published photo of a ‘smiling’ fireman conversing with a politician, at a tragic scene, was nauseating! I felt sick and angry.

Jerry Hall
SUTTON, Surrey

If only the Nation had the Gut to print the blog I wrote asking why did the Fire Service not even saved one life. There seems to be no vision on the part of the People at the Nation. Again I say shame on you guys. I could do a much better job than most of your reporters.

By the way why were there only six comments relating to the article on the Commissioner and his deputy.Please let the people’s voices be heard that’s what good journalism is about. Is the print media and electronic media in barbados fighting and pressuring government to change the freedom of information Act. Are they fighting to have the libel , defamation and libel law change. The media in Barbados is part of the problem in the Country.They sit back and let the politicians do as they like. The media in Barbados need to start fighting to have a free and meaningful media in Barbados. We need to take back Barbados.

Mr Hall,i understand your anger but you need to understand firefighters are not supermen or superwomen.The Fire Service should have been given the power to enforce the Building Code a long time ago.It is sad that fingers have to be pointed because of this tragedy but i hope this is another lesson.It seems as though the Rescue Tender is a waste of money Mr Marshall,hydraulic tools are what you need not sledge hammers.

Instead of complaining try being in the fire suit and see if you can do any better.We never try to experience the role of a professional but prefer to try to give advice on the sideline.The best thing now is to work on a Fire Code and integrate it with the Building Code to ensure safety in the workplace. Ideas need to be passed on and not criticism,Chief Marshall i surely hope your inspections will ensure this tragedy never occurs.

Granted Mr. Babb and “Short-Man” may have been on the scene for however long before the firemen arrived from Probyn street etc. Maybe some of the firemen could have tried roof entry while the others tried front… Im only saying….

I know for certain of a robbery of a store on that block farther up a years ago where roof entry was used. I believe the thieves gained access via the ac unit. So I am tending to believe Mr. Babb in that if the ac unit could be removed entry to the inside may have been possible….

I dont know for sure…. Im only saying…

Everyone tried their best, I am sure.

No back Door Entrance is not an acceptable excuse. 
You have to make an entrance from both sides of this building and the rear.
  No leadership at the Fire dept -No leadership at the
Police dept.
Mr Fire Chief your comments are a perfect example as to why the Police Force has a SPOKES PERSON
Your department NEEDS ONE .
your comments were stupid and showed a lack of knowledge to your position.
Condolence to the families
and all my country people
*** ex police officer **

fao: ‘Fed up’

Having had some training to combat different types of fires in enclosed spaces, courtesy of the RN, I can understand from experience, the discomfort of wearing protective fire clothing.

But Sir, personal discomfort pales into insignificance, when the safety and even the life of your fellowman is at stake and his/her wellbeing depends on your effort.

Excellent training added to adrenalin take over until the task is finished, regardless of the outcome.

No moe excuses please.

Jerry ‘diehard bajan’

This man mek it sound like 911,well,well.,Them better get ready for more shite to come cause these are changing times.

i was off duty on Friday and was not there but i know my fellow fire officers did their best . basic rule is SAVE A SAVABLE LIFE which means we don’t loss our life for one we cannot save.  the same way you expect your family members back home safely so do our own families . i am glad that today i am not morning the loss of a fellow fire fighter.

i know that persons are looking for someone to blame and although i do not agree with some of the points the fire chief said he has made a few good ones. one of the first most important things is to ensure u dont put u or ur other officers in any danger than can cause further causalities.In my opinion i do believe that if an opening was made from that roof those lives on that roof would have been lost because that fire was in a confine place and with the first whiff of oxygen which the fire would have gotten had that roof been open the fire would have escape.Ppl it is ok to talk but had the officers not done what they did this could have been alot worst and instead of 6 lives it could have been alot more.

the fire chief looks like a lazzy 300lbs, the bore hole was not big enought.the fire men are paid to take risk snd try to help where help i needed that is part of they job,good on you mad.

I know one of the victims personnaly (kelly-ann Welch)and talked to her the same day that her life came to an end, and i’m lost for words and still cant believe this and will not believe i guess until i see her in a coufin. Re:- the fire service u story just dont sound correct and you should be careful with what u are saying in either the Saturday or Sunday Sun you state the “after the fire subsiding you enter through a hole which you had drilled and found Shannan and she was still livng the fire started just before 7pm and you found her after 10 pm still livng check the time spand .Why drill and hole if you dont plan to enter why wait until the fire subsiding to enter , probably if you had entered after drilling the hole she would have made it. I’m at a lost and shock cant sleep and dont no how i’m even going on, to the families of the six women i’m sory for your lost and Remember God knows best and has a Handle on Everything.

Let us not be blinded by anger and misunderstandings, yet learn from the tragedy. Please don’t let thee young ladies sacrifice be not invain but a building stone of improvement in our treatment of others, our improvement in services. We are quick to lay blame on things we do not understand.I ask you this, has the fire chief ever have to deal with such a senario before? In such a unique setting the chief’s first priority is the safety of his men and women, then the community then the victims. Yes we firefighters are trained to take risks, but the risks are calculated and must be safe. Barbados does not have the most uptodate equipment and are limited in there capacity to handle certain situations. The fire I thought was handled pretty well considering other factors. It could have burnt down the whole block.Lets not be to quick to judge. My heart and prayers go out to the families involved. From the ashes of dispair we shall triumph.

Firefighter/Emt in Florida