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The ranks of the National Fire Service have been increased by 32 new firefighters. These new recruits passed out at a ceremony after weeks of intense training to get them ready to take on the toughest blaze in any parts of the country.

It’s an important increase in personnel for the Fire Department, since the number of fires – especially arsons - have spiked this year, particularly in the month of October.

We attended the graduation ceremony where we got a chance to speak with Edmond Castro, under whose portfolio the Fire Department falls. He told us where these new recruits would go, and the Valedictorian in this graduating class gave a striking account of the arduous physical tests they were put through to get to this point. Here’s what they had to say this morning:

Hon. Edmond Castro - Minister of NEMO & Transport
"We have 32 graduating today that will take us to approximately 162 firefighters currently, approximately 150 volunteer firefighters so I think we are doing quite well. This is our 2nd passing out for this year; the first one was in May of this year and then this one in November. We have 17 stations throughout the country and so we will distribute them across the length and breathe of the country in terms for them to get the necessary experience to assist the existing firefighters that we have within those 17 facilities."

Patrick Parks - Top Recruit Firefighter
"Due to the demanding nature of this course we have built a strong sense of teamwork on and commitment to get the job done always giving 110% in whatever we do. We have made it through the pain, the sweat and the flames. May I remind you guys about PT (laugh). It was one of those days that no one really liked, no one wanted to line up at 8 o'clock in the morning under the hot sun running around that circle of death, Marion Jones Stadium (laugh). Stopping almost every mile to do push ups, star jumps, leg raise and sit ups. My knees are starting to hurt thinking about it. Don't get me started on Mr. Randy the mannequin that we pulled and dragged and saved countless times from fires and collapse buildings and what's not. What about the days up in Ladyville when we were doing live fire training. Everyone was on the edge whenever the pallets were started to be assigned; right Peters, Marin, Flowers? (laugh). Many nights and afternoons after doing ladder drills, hydrant drills, search and rescue drills the air was filled with the aroma and bengay and ice rub. I kept a full bottle of lotion all the time to fight the chafe. "

But, as viewers are aware, 4 children died as a result of fires which happened last month. Those victims are Aaron Gabourel, Kaylee Alvarez, Ian Sambula-Carr, and Empress Hamilton. Their tragic deaths have shocked the nation, reminding all that these blaze don’t just destroy property, they can take lives. So, the point is driven home that the firefighters need to be able to make the best effort they can at a moment’s notice because a life may be at risk. But, in some parts of the country, the National Fire Service is handicapped because they are using ancient equipment which should have been replaced a long time ago.

We spoke to the Minister in charge, and he said that the Government is acutely aware of it, and of the increase in the number of fires that has happened this year:

Hon. Edmond Castro - Minister of NEMO & Transport
"I think it's a wonderful thing for us to make sure that we increase our firefighting capability. If you notice on the news of recent more and more accidents from fire are taking place throughout the urban centres and also in the rural areas. So we must pay special attention to the department that is responsible for fire and I think we are right on target since I took over the fire department, we are trying to make sure that we get more personnel that are capable and very effective in terms of the fighting of fire in our country."

Daniel Ortiz
"We think of one fire truck in southern Belize that's over 40 years old. These firefighters are held to such high standards, they are often harshly criticised when people perceive their service not to be up to par and so we the government and people of Belize cannot hold them to such high standards if we're not going to give them the best equipment."

Hon. Edmond Castro - Minister of NEMO & Transport
"It's a continuous improvement since I got here at the fire department. If you notice that we couldn't have any graduation ceremony if we never have the basic fire drills, fire equipment for these new firefighters. So we are constantly getting new equipment for the fire department. We know that some of the equipment are ancient so we sometime next year in the process of acquiring or buying some water trucks that will be able to facilitate the fire department. In most cases many times it's the lack of water that prevents the firefighters from executing their job. So we've looking at about 6 three thousand gallon to four thousand gallon trucks that we should be getting some time next year." 

The oldest fire trucks we know of are in the south and those are reported to be over 40 years old.