SLFS Reports 25 Per Cent Rise in Fire Emergencies Amid Dip in Overall Calls

The Saint Lucia Fire Service (SLFS) is reporting an overall dip in the number of incidents it responded to this year compared to 2023, but fire calls continue to rise, increasing by 25 per cent.

A comprehensive breakdown provided by the SLFS on Tuesday, showed a total of 12 840 medical, trauma, and non-emergency calls for 2024, compared to 14 430 last year. Those numbers increased to 13 567 and 15 012 for 2024 and 2023, respectively, when fire emergencies were added.

According to the SLFS, there were 727 fire emergencies this year, significantly up from 582 in 2023. The numbers included house, industrial, commercial, bush, electrical, pole, vehicle, and coal pit fires, smoke disturbances and smoke alarm activations.

A breakdown of the other statistics showed that medical emergencies accounted for the majority of calls, with 7 434 incidents reported, including cardiac arrests, respiratory issues, and other urgent health crises requiring immediate intervention. There were 8 496 in 2023.

The service handled 2 211 trauma-related incidents – compared to 2 430 last year – which included physical injuries from accidents, falls, and violence.

A total of 3 195 non-emergency situations were also managed. These included public assistance, minor investigations, and safety inspections that did not require immediate fire or medical intervention. In 2023, that figure was 3 504.

The SLFS said the report highlighted the diverse needs of the community and underscored its critical role in emergency response across the island.

It encouraged citizens to practise fire safety throughout their New Year’s festivities and into 2025.