The fire chiefs from the fire departments of Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, and Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba) gathered last week for a two-day meeting. Firefighters from the Netherlands and the National Fire Academy were also present. During the meeting, they discussed strengthening cooperation and made new agreements for the future.
The cooperation between the fire departments in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom has existed for ten years this year. During this period, the departments have collaborated intensively in the areas of training, safety, disaster assistance, and the development of leadership within the fire service.
Training
During the meeting, the commanders discussed how they can better align the training and qualifications of fire service personnel. This makes it easier to temporarily exchange fire service personnel. They can gain experience or assist each other in emergencies.
They also discussed a joint training for fire prevention inspectors. In this, the departments share knowledge and experience with each other and with the Netherlands. Additionally, agreements were made for rapid support after a hurricane. Fire service personnel can then be quickly transported to the affected area to provide assistance.
Better Together
For residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, cooperation with the other islands in the kingdom means that assistance in case of fire or disaster is arranged faster and better, even if the department needs support from colleagues from other islands.