The lack of adequate man power in the Fire and Ambulance Services has been a major sticking point, however soon that may be yesterday’s cry.
That is because there is currently a recruitment drive for increased human resource for the service.
“We have submitted proposals for submission for new recruits into the Fire Department and Establishment have conducted interviews and we are presently in the process of selecting…” Public Relations Officer for the Fire Service Wayne Letang told DNO. “As to how many, we do not know.”
He pointed out that about 80 interviews were conducted over a two-day period recently and names were submitted for review.
He noted the “review” process is a long one, which involves doing background checks by the Police Force Special Branch. After that a final list will be drafted.
According to Letang up to 75 new personnel are needed.
“That’s what we would like to see, but we cannot,” he stated. “We would like to see even if it is 25 coming in immediately … we would be happy about that. We have vacancies that we need to fill in right now and the numbers are not what we expect, so we would be happy with a set of recruits right now.”
Letang hastened to add, “We cannot guarantee that we are going to get a set of recruits during this year, but we are still hoping.”
He also mentioned that for a number of years now the fire department has been requesting that domestic firefighting be separated from airport firefighting at the Melville Hall Branch. He also said there should be two persons on the ambulances stationed there but current regulations allow only one.
“And those are some of the things that we would like to see addressed,” he said.
He further stated there is a lot of administrative issues that the fire department would like to handle itself, however at the moment this cannot be done.
Letang noted plans are in the making for the upgrading both Laplaine and Castle Bruce Fire Stations which at the moment are only operated as ambulance stations.
“There’s quite a bit of development still on the cards within the Fire Department and we are looking forward to this …. so recruitment is one of those areas that we are really focusing on,” he said.
I’ve followed all the comments under the post and I see where some people point out the challenges that are facing fire service which is almost thesame in most of the countries particularly Africa. I am a fire safety officer in Nigeria 🇳🇬 with over two years working experience I won’t mind relocating to Dominica as a volunteer fire officer sacrificing my life for humanity is all that matters not about the salary.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE RECRUITED
Yo did t even eay nothing
I boats labbor and I live in sttomas
five more years
they do a lot of work for the country and the world
That’s tire
This is truly amazing!!!!! According to PRO Letang up to 75 new personnel are needed, and you bet that they were not created “fly by night”. When was the last time the Fire department had a recruitment exercise. One would have thought that an organization of such importance would be having regular (annual or biannual) recruitment. So how come every year or so we hearing graduation of police officers and nothing for fire officers.
i love my job, but in Dominica its not appreciated, we work hard to achieved of battle when the needs arised at the end we are given the worst recognition. Government cannot procure the basic needs as a breathing appartus and even our living condition. i sometimes wonder y i am in this job, but because of the love for people i remain. please i am pleading to the authority please address our situation in Portsmouth / Grandbay Roseau/ Canefield /and all other stations not mentioned , we are people of the state and we deserved the rights to better working conditions,. we are serving a country.
I am glad the government is creating jobs , but the prisoners at stock farm who are in for misdemeanor offenses should be train to fight fire also as a cost cutting cost to the tax payer of Dominica, they should also clean the road from Roseau to the air port , all that weed , and bushes, on the road while they sit and watch t.v. The prison officers need training in of site supervision on how to deal with those inmates [prisoners] on the outside.
A Dominican diaspora in Cali.
the art or fire fighting. alot of us will say and have said so many things about firemen but put them there to work and they wont last a day. fire fighting is a skill, an art.
this is a good move! more hands on deck lighter the work
Quality of Life people. Indoor sports complex, new state house and adequate means of protecting life and property should go hand in hand. Politics have nothing. To do with progress. When Dominica moves forward Labourites and Uwprites benefit.
Oh wow, I am so glad that it must go under the review board. Watching on the side lines I saw a drug dealer well suit down is a good thing it must pass through carbon. All you government people too like to do what all you want. It have plenty other decent people there that can be fire fighters…..
I wonder how much is the pay a month
One hundred dollars ($100)
I think it’s the basic starting wage for any public officer…$1400.00 per month….You good with that nuh?
Lol nooooo that’s not enough
when we talkin about we need people or manpower in the fire service to me that just mouth talk if lookin at collage and university student to come out fire we are not ready yet to my knowledge even a scavenger could out fire so i am wanderin if uall need some UWE students to out FIRE.
This is rather an unfortunate statement. In other countries, you require at least 60 college credits to be considered for the position. Some positions also require a college degree and advanced training.
Fire fighting also includes chemical and electrical fires as well. Without the proper training and knowledge, one could cause more harm than good, if they employ the incorrect procedures when tacking these fires. First Aid and CPR also requires scientific knowledge as well. Would you want someone who can’t read and write and who do not understand how the human body functions to perform CPR on a person in distress?
@ Apachie Indian
Please be informed that the firemen are not only responsible for putting fires out; they also man the ambulance. These same men are put in charge of your life in the event of an emergency. So not any “scanvenger” can be recruited to out “out fire”. Be informed.
Congrats to the Fire service for doing a job that could be even better appreciated. They have very limited resources. Health and Safety are among the most important things in life and they are a part of that security. The department definitely needs a boost. It would be nice to see two people on an ambulance for example., But thats beyond nice to see its absolutely vital. We should aim to have our ambulance servioce to the level of paramedic care. Of course that includes both manpower/training as well as the right equipment. But in this day and age where we can boast about having MRI and CAT scans at the hospital, our first line of emergency care is sadly inadequate. Granted there is a cost factor but i would hope that for one there is the proper strategy and that we are moving in that direction. Its very disheartening to hear that its a matter of regulation why one person mans the ambulance. We know that just to maneuver a patient you need more than one person. Simply not practical, Hats of the Emergency personnel for their work with limited resources, Health care however should be taken to a higher lever.