25 People, Including Children, Displaced by Fire on Old Airport Road, Providenciales

Wilkie Arthur

Eagle Legal News

Turks and Caicos, October 7, 2024 – A fire on Old Airport Road, Providenciales, has displaced approximately 25 people, including children. The fire engulfed an old building, which was occupied by several families.

In the early hours of Monday, 23rd September 2024, firefighters responded with two fire trucks to the scene of the blaze. However, controlling the fire proved challenging due to inadequate fire trucks, which are ill-equipped for handling large-scale fires in Providenciales.

The fire trucks, with limited water storage capacity, required 15 to 20 trips each to refill, severely hampering the firefighting efforts. It was an embarrassing sight as the trucks repeatedly left the scene to refill, as observed by Eagle Legal News’ investigative journalist.

Additionally, the trucks lacked the necessary equipment, such as ladders or sufficiently long hoses, to tackle flames on higher floors. This highlights the urgent need for larger, more capable fire trucks similar to those used at the airport, which should also be available for residential areas.

The current fire trucks, which need refilling every 15 to 20 minutes, could pose a severe risk in life-threatening situations, as they are not adequately equipped for immediate rescue operations. The inadequacy of these trucks is alarming, especially when lives are at stake.

Now, Families Displaced by Fire in Need of Assistance