MARINE GEPARTIENT
CASUALTIES
10. Details of casualties resulting from fires and other causes such as landslides or collapsed buildings and of the number of persons rescued by the Fire Brigade arc as follows:
Died Injured
Rescued
Rescued but died after
Fires
22
184
28
4
Landslides, collapsed build-
ings, drowning and other
causes
31
135
38
1
BARY
42
??
II. No serious injuries were received by Fire Brigade personnel during the past year with the exception of two firemen who were injured in the fire at Boundary Street on 2nd March, 1959.
STAFF
12. The strength of the Brigade was increased by 2 officers and 39 other ranks. The approved establishment of the Department on 31st March, 1959, was 809 Officers and other ranks.
13. Mr. C. W. Brand, Deputy Chief Officer, retired on 25th June, 1958 and Mr. R. G. Cox, G.M., was transferred from Trinidad to fill this appointment. The latter arrived in the Colony on 28th July, 1958.
14. Eight vacancies for Station Officers from overseas were notified to the Crown Agents who endeavoured to recruit trained and ex- perienced candidates. The response to advertisements by the Crown Agents was poor and they were requested to readvertise. Three vacancies were held by Sub Officers acting as Station Officers who will be pro- moted substantively if proved to be suitable for the higher rank. Other local Sub Officers are either inexperienced by reason of short service or unsuitable for the responsibilities of Station Officers. To overcome this difficulty Government has approved a scheme under which selected local Sub Officers will be sent, two or three at a time, to the United Kingdom to undergo short courses in the Fire College and Fire Stations. It is hoped that in the sourse of the next several years sufficient trained Sub Officers will be available to be considered for promotion when vacancies for Station Officers exist.
15. Five Senior Firemen and one Senior Watchkeeper were pro- moted to the rank of Sub Officer during the year.
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