A WIDE RANGE of “new state-of-the-art” firefighting and rescue equipment was the centre of attention at the Grantley Adams International Airport Fire Station yesterday.
The equipment was acquired through a collaborative project between Angloco Limited and the Barbados Fire Service. Angloco is a British company that manufactures firefighting and rescue vehicles and equipment.
The demonstration was viewed by 19 fire officers from nine Caribbean fire services.
Barbados’ Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall noted that while the demonstration was an “opportunistic” event for all the fire services represented, the link between Angloco and the Barbados Fire Service was formed in the early 1990s.
Marshall stated that Angloco had not only supplied custom-built vehicles for Barbados, but had been the conduit through which the service obtained replacement parts, vehicular maintenance service, technical training and advice and a guaranteed after-sales service that was second to none.
“The administration of the Fire Service and the Government of Barbados have taken responsibility to ensure that the service is not deficient in areas such as continuous relevant training and skills development, modern and functional equipment, a safe working environment and hassle-free Fire Service operations.
“This Fire Service also boasts of a fleet of vehicles renowned for minimal down time, high working performance and sound mechanical functionality.
There is where Angloco Limited comes into the picture,” said Marshall.
Angloco’s sales and marketing director Alistair Brown told the DAILY NATION that the equipment on display was mainly for the rescuing of trapped individuals.
“If you have a bad car crash and you need to be taken out of the car before the doctor can treat you, the tools here today can safely get you out of the car. If there is an earthquake or a cave-in and a building collapse, the tools we are showing can support the collapsed building and help the Fire Service to safely go in and extricate the person,” he said, adding that “there is also a special camera that can go through the rubble, [and] also a very sensitive microphone that can hear the breathing of an unconscious person.”
