Expert firefighter gives opinion on how Mandeville gas station fire could have been avoided

About 6:00 pm, a massive fire broke out at the facility located at the intersection of Perth, Caledonia and Manchester roads.

One particular amateur video footage, captured from a mobile phone, provided some clues as to how the fire could have started. A man was seen assessing the situation as litres of petroleum flowed from one of the pumps.

Personnel at the station either had no training or failed to apply best practices, as they weren’t wearing any protective gear and neither was any safety measures put in place in the event of any unforeseen challenges like the disaster that followed. While all this was happening vehicles were still being allowed to enter the service station. 

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The disaster is bound to ignite another round of fiery debate about mandatory safety measures at facilities such as petrol stations. Did the operators apply minimum standard safety measures in that instance? One expert firefighter, who requested that his name remain private, said after reviewing several videos on social media many obvious questions came to mind, such as the availability of a sandbox and the emergency switch used to cut off the flow of petrol to the pumps.

“A lot of times when you go to these gas stations they don’t have the sandboxes,” he said. “And even if they do have it, there is no sand in them. Many times they use them as garbage bins.”

Seven persons reportedly receive burns and are nursing injuries at the Mandeville Hospital.

Former firefighter at Airport Professional Services Courtney Davis also saw the videos making the rounds. And from his own observation “all safety operation was breached”.

“I can’t give a full assessment based on the videos alone, because what started it I really don’t know,” Davis, a 29-year veteran firefighter, told Old Harbour News. “But what they should have   done, they should have cordon off the area, get everybody out. Nobody was taking any precaution for something serious like that. All safety operation was breached based on what I observed in the videos circulating.”

Davis, who has strong ties to Old Harbour, added: “They should have locked off the gas immediately. Gas is a high explosive. I don’t know where the spark comes from, but with vehicle’s engine running on the pump the risk for such a disaster is now extremely high.”

Claudine Heaven, who is director of the service station that has been serving the parish for more than three decades, said they will now await the outcome of the investigation. 

"The events of last evening have been difficult for us to comprehend. We are grateful to GOD that all lives were spared and continue to pray that the 5 persons injured will be restored to full health. All our staff are accounted for," she wrote on her personal Twitter page. 

"At this time we await the result of the investigations. The focus continues to be the wellbeing of our staff and customers who have supported our business for over 33 years."

The events of last evening have been difficult for us to comprehend. We are grateful to GOD that all lives were spared and continue to pray that the 5 persons injured will be restored to full health. All our staff are accounted for.

— Claudine M. H. (@cmheaven) February 22, 2020