Black River Fire Station relocation suggested after Melissa crippled operations
Published:Wednesday | January 14, 2026 | 12:09 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Mark Edwards, the assistant superintendent at the St Elizabeth branch of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), is raising concerns about the location of the Black River Fire Station after it was flooded and rendered inoperable during Hurricane Melissa.
“During the hurricane, I was at work. The compound was like an ocean, so the fire brigade was impacted and rendered useless,” Edwards told councillors at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation (StEMC).
The Black River Fire Station, located at 5 Brigade Street, serves as the headquarters of the JFB St Elizabeth Division and functions as the primary emergency-response hub for the parish, providing fire suppression, rescue operations, and emergency medical services to 65 communities, operating under the mandate of saving lives and protecting property.
However, Edwards said the station’s low-lying coastal location proved to be a critical weakness during Hurricane Melissa. Fire units were unable to deploy at the height of the storm as floodwaters and debris engulfed the compound.
“The fire trucks were surrounded by debris. My concern is that, because we are living with climate change, we are now thinking whether the fire station is at the best location because we were not able to respond during the hurricane,” said Edwards.
Edwards’ concerns come under two years after the Black River Fire Station underwent major upgrades. In February 2024, the facility was significantly renovated, with improvements including modern dormitories, expanded administrative offices, and upgraded infrastructure.
Despite those improvements, Hurricane Melissa exposed the vulnerability of the headquarters itself, prompting renewed debate about resilience and long-term suitability of critical emergency infrastructure in flood-prone areas.
Edwards said the division is now gradually resuming its statutory functions following the dislocation caused by the storm.
“For December, we have resumed building inspections. In November, we had only four building inspections based on the hurricane impact. However, in December, we would have done 28 building inspections. This is the start of our compulsory duties,” he said.
“As it relates to fire, nothing has really changed drastically,” said Edwards, who further noted that the overall fire situation in the parish has remained stable.
St Elizabeth is served by three fire stations, located in Black River, Santa Cruz and Junction.
Hurricane Melissa caused widespread damage across western Jamaica, with St Elizabeth among the hardest hit. In Black River, storm surge and heavy rainfall flooded low-lying areas, damaged roads and public buildings, and disrupted essential services.