Fire Service updates: 9,000+ regular ambulance runs in last year; new service vehicles

The Dominica Fire and Ambulance Service has conducted over 9,000 regular ambulance runs for the period July 2024 to May 31, 2025.

This was according to Acting Chief Fire Officer Wayne Letang, who was delivering remarks during a recent press conference organized by the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs.

“During the period July 2024 to May 31st, 2025, the fire service conducted 9,014 regular ambulance runs, with the Roseau District being the most active with 4,676 runs,” he revealed. “ Other districts are as follows; Portsmouth 1,257 runs, Marigot 844 runs, St Joseph District 1,020 runs, Grandbay District 532 runs, Castle Bruce District 399, and the Laplaine District 286, which is the smallest.”

In addition, he revealed that 82 motor vehicle crash incidents were responded to.

“This accounts for a total of 9,996 ambulance runs,” Letang revealed. “The fire service during the period also responded to a total of 108 fires, which include structural building fires: 33, motor vehicle fires: 16, bush and forest fires: 59,” Letang explained.

Furthermore, he stated that during the financial year, the Ministry of National Security assisted the fire service greatly,  with the purchase of one new fire truck at the cost of 1.5 million EC dollars.

“The construction of this fire truck commenced in April 2025 and is expected to be completed and designed within 10 to 14 months,” he said.

In addition, one fully equipped ambulance will be added to the fire service fleet during the month of July and was purchased at a cost of about EC$310,000.

“We got information that it is expected to be on [the] island on July 23rd,” Letang said.

The ambulance will be equipped with monitoring devices, stretchers/gurneys.  Also, a wheelchair and wheelchair accessibility.