A senior member of the JFB expressed his disappointment regarding incidents of theft by fellow members. There are reports of responders taking someone to the hospital and upon discovering the person died, they went back and robbed the house.

$10 Million Fire Heist

• Three firefighters charged with robbing millions from Budget Supplies while responding to massive blaze

• First responders under scrutiny following implications in two robberies last year

12 Mar 2023/Andre Williams Staff Reporter

THREE FIREFIGHTERS are now before the court, accused of stealing over CA$90,000 (approximately J$10 million) from a fireproof vault while responding to a fire that gutted sections of the New Budget Supplies and Hardware on the night of December 16 last year.

Nearly three months after the incident, the three firemen (one a district officer) attached to the Rollington Town Fire Station in St Andrew were charged with larceny and have been suspended from duties pending the outcome of the case.

The estimated loss from the inferno at the Hagley Park Road, St Andrew business was approximately $700 million. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

MEDICAL TECHNICIANS

In another robbery incident last year involving first responders attached to the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), three emergency medical technicians (EMT) from the Lucea Fire Station in Hanover were accused of stealing personal property from the home of an elderly person after they responded to a call for emergency medical assistance. According to reports, the senior citizen was pronounced dead at hospital, following which the men returned to the house and stole money and jewellery.

A senior member of the JFB told The Sunday Gleaner that he was quite disturbed by these incidents, as they bring disrepute to the fire brigade.

“In the Lucea case, an ambulance responded to an incident and went to the person’s house. The men took the person to hospital, and apparently when they realised the person was deceased, they went back to the house and took out some stuff out the house, like money and jewellery. The camera picked them up,” the senior firefighter, who requested anonymity, shared.

In that incident, the men were placed on no-pay suspension, but no charges were laid following investigations. Two of the EMTs, who are firefighters with specialised training, have since resigned.

“Things like these make the good men who are serving also come under scrutiny,” said the annoyed veteran.

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