Fire Destroys Family’s home In Wemyss Bight, Eleuthera Emergency Operations Centre with Fire and Ambulance Services Nearby Needs Funds To Complete Their Building
Eleuthera, Bahamas – On Valentine’s Day 2013, sadly a young couple and their infant child lost their home to a fire in Wemyss Bight, Eleuthera but escaped without injury. “We got the call that afternoon,” said SEEP (South Eleuthera Emergency Partners) volunteer, Ian Carey who operates out of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Tarpum Bay, a 30-minute drive away. We gathered up our volunteer firemen and headed to the scene. “When we arrived, the wooden building as fully engulfed in flames. A half hour to 45 minute response time is a long one with a raging fire,” said Carey.
Local residents had tried to extinguish the fire with garden hoses without success due to the lack of equipment and low water pressure. Clendinique Ferguson, Altama Strachan and their one-year old son occupied the home. As reported by The Eleutheran newspaper, Paulamae Hall, a local onlooker said, “We need the fire station in Wemyss Bight. We need our MP to do something immediately with this fire situation. Right now the water pressure is low and you can’t get any water. Thank goodness the locals were home to help with this fire.”
SEEP’s 4-man volunteer firefighting crew used the large volume of water from their truck to fight the fire and also drew water from the sea. Their Wemyss Bight Emergency Operations Center (WB EOC) that is under construction was just 5 minutes away from the scene of the fire. Carey said that had it been in operational capacity, a team from that command center would have reached the fire quickly. The cause of the fire was a result of a small fire burning debris at the scene that was spread by the wind and had moved to the house. Carey cautions residents to please refrain from lighting fires during this dry season.
At the time of the fire, word was spread by Danielle Gibson who posted this plea on her facebook: “Residents of Wemyss Bight, Green Castle, Waterford, Deep Creek Bannerman Town, and John Millars, please support the work that SEEP is doing. A fire is blazing right now in Wemyss Bight and we have to wait on emergency vehicles from Tarpum Bay... Let's work together to make this building happen. It will be to everyone's benefit!”
Known as South Eleuthera Emergency Partners, SEEP is a non-profit organization located in Tarpum Bay that has operated the fire and ambulance services for South Eleuthera since 2006. They work in conjunction with Government agencies and partners and rely mostly on fundraising to operate their programs.
SEEP is in the in the process of finishing the modern EOC that is located on the Cotton Bay Road, renamed the Chris “Fireman” Brown road (after former resident and Bahamian Gold Medalist, Chris Brown). “Based on the already successful model in Tarpum Bay but with more sustainable features, we are about 75% completed,” said Shaun Ingraham, director of SEEP and who is also a volunteer fireman. “The structural work, electrical and plumbing has been completed and the roof is on. The 30,000- gallon water storage tank has been placed in the ground. Sustainable features will include solar operated pumps and a composting garden. Approximately $32,000.00 is required to complete the stucco, interior walls, doors, landscape and the rest of the electrical and plumbing. The fire truck and ambulance for the Wemyss Bight EOC (WB EOC) is already on hand. We are targeting a Spring 2013 opening but are in need of more funds.”
Communities that will benefit include Wemyss Bight, Green Castle, Waterford, Bannerman Town, Princess Cays, Deep Creek and Cotton Bay that has a population of 2500 and homes that are valued as high as $2 million. The ambulance services will also service Princess Cays and the cruise line. In 2011, a fire in Green Castle claimed the life of 83-year old Lena Daisy Brown as a result of a house fire. The EOC Master Plan document states, “The building structure is designed with simple, cost-effective, and well-known building practices, while utilizing new green materials and technologies in creative ways.
Sustainable energy, ecology and water systems for the building and site have been developed for both functional day-to-day operations and emergency situations. The EOC building design follows the guidelines and recommendations for Island-wide environmental renewal as stated in the 2010 planning report “A Shared Vision for South Eleuthera”. New buildings planned within the South Eleuthera community will benefit from this demonstration.”
“I would like to thank the local community and volunteer firefighters Ian Carey, Jermaine Deveaux, Ricardo Edwards and Kevin Carey for assisting with the Wemyss Bight fire,” said SEEP’s director Shaun Ingraham.
To donate to SEEP, please contact via email at seep.eoc@gmail.com or visit their website www.southeleutheraep.org or facebook, South Eleuthera Emergency Partners- SEEP or call 242-334-4630
A fire on Valentine’s Day 2013 in Wemyss Bight, Eleuthera destroyed the home of a couple and their infant. Everyone escaped unharmed. A nearby Emergency Operations Center (EOC) being built by SEEP, a non-profit organization will provide emergency fire and ambulance service is 75% complete. Communities in South Eleuthera and SEEP are making an urgent appeal for funds to finish the Wemyss Bight EOC. Photo provided by Melanie Clarke
Shown is a conceptual drawing of the Wemyss Bight Emergency Operations Center (WB EOC) with surrounding landscape. Sustainable elements like solar plumbing, hurricane force doors made of recycled material, a 30,000 water storage tank and composting garden are highlights of the WB EOC.
