Scarborough fire officers eye Caroline building

Fire officers look on after extinguishing a blaze at the Scarborough Fire Station last month.
Fire officers look on after extinguishing a blaze at the Scarborough Fire Station last month.

ALMOST a month after the Scarborough Fire Station was badly damaged in a blaze, fire officials are close to finding a new home. Since April 14, the fire officers have been based at Crown Point.

Speaking with Newsday last week, PRO of the Tobago fire department David Thomas said although they have looked at various places to move to temporarily, they will maintain a presence in Scarborough.

“We have a standby arrangement where there are temporary facilities for the administrative office, where officers are stationed there in the daylight from 9.30am to 5pm. When the shift is changed, we have coverage from 10pm in the night."

He said last month a number of site visits to potential spots took place, including the Caroline building in downtown Scarborough, Fairfield Complex and the vacant Old Grange police station on Carnbee Main Road, and most likely the headquarters will be relocated to the Caroline building, which is receiving the attention of the Ministry of National Security.

“We were also considering a few multi-purpose facilities, like Lowlands. We looked at them but, in the process of negotiating accommodation, we learned they will not be available because they have already been contracted out. Hopefully we should have some information on moving to the Caroline building and how we can go forward.”

Thomas said engineers and architects have already visited the the old fire station and repairs are expected to begin in the near future.

“I am expecting a report soon so it will be submitted to the ministry so that they can determine how we can go forward."

The Scarborough station in Bacolet was gutted by fire around 7pm on April 14. The entire top floor of the building, which held beds, documents and fire equipment, was destroyed.

An investigation revealed the electrical wiring of an air condition unit started the blaze. Over 80 per cent of the upper part of the building was destroyed.

The blaze came amidst a spate of fires in Mason Hall and Moriah which had officers busy.

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