Summary

• Heightened Risk: With Trinidad currently at the peak of the dry season, the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government is warning of a significantly elevated threat of bushfires.
• Call to Action: Energy facilities operating across all 14 Municipal Corporations are being urged to take immediate, proactive steps to protect their infrastructure, personnel, and surrounding communities.
• Recommended Precautions: Facilities are advised to establish fire trails, clear combustible vegetation, check fire suppression systems, and update emergency response plans. Assistance is available via the Fire Service at 990.

AS Trinidad experiences the peak of the dry season, the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government is urging energy facilities across the country to take immediate action to protect their infrastructure from the heightened risk of bushfires.

In a public advisory issued on Friday through its Disaster Management Coordinating Unit (DMCU), the Ministry warned that the current dry conditions significantly elevate the threat of bushfires. Consequently, the Ministry is calling on all energy facilities operating within the 14 Municipal Corporations to proactively safeguard their operations, personnel, and surrounding environments.

To mitigate the hazards posed by bushfires, the Ministry has recommended a series of precautionary measures for facility operators, including:

• Creating Buffer Zones: Establishing fire trails around facilities to act as effective barriers.
• Clearing Hazards: Removing dry vegetation and combustible debris from in and around operational areas.
• Checking Equipment: Ensuring that all fire suppression systems are fully operational, properly maintained, and easily accessible.
• Updating Protocols: Reviewing emergency response plans to ensure they account for potential bushfire scenarios.
• Staff Training: Conducting emergency drills and awareness sessions to bolster staff preparedness and response capabilities.

The Ministry emphasized that implementing these steps will not only protect the energy facilities themselves but also help shield nearby communities and the natural environment from catastrophic fire damage.

Facility operators and citizens requiring additional information or assistance regarding fire safety are encouraged to contact the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service at 625-2671–5, 226-TTFS (8837), or via the emergency hotline at 990.