by TIM SLINGER

THE BARBADOS FIRE SERVICE has sent an SOS to the business community for financial help to launch an educational drive aimed at reducing the spiralling number of fires across the island.

Speaking to a cross-section of business representatives at the service's Probyn Street headquarters in Bridgetown, Chief Fire Officer Chesterfield Mayers expressed serious concern about the high number of house fires – 63 so far this year, the highest of any corresponding period in the past five years.

"We are a small community and there are too many structural fires, and it is the people who cannot afford to lose their homes who are suffering the most," he said.

Noting that the department's annual budget, under pressure from the demand for services, had left little room to meet other obligations, the fire chief spoke about the proposed launch of a "fire prevention and community relations unit fire strategy". This is designed to cover fire prevention education for children from the kindergarten to secondary school level.

He added the Fire Service was also hoping to market fire safety guidelines to children by utilising its mascot, Benny the Fire Safety Cat.

"His job is to be friendly and non-threatening, to help especially young children to learn the fire safety and prevention concepts," a statement outlining the plans for the island-wide educational programme said.

It is also proposed to use retired fire officers in its drive to minimise fires through special programmes for the elderly.