Fires claimed 21 lives last year – Benn

A fatal fire at Westminster
A fatal fire at Westminster

-acknowledges gaps in firefighting

Twenty-one persons died in fires last year, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn disclosed yesterday during his end-of-year press conference.

The fires, which not only claimed lives but also destroyed farmlands and forestry, highlighted critical gaps in fire prevention and response, Benn acknowledged while pledging to distribute more equipment to vulnerable communities in 2025.

Reflecting on the Ministry’s performance, Benn described 2024 as “a very good year,” emphasizing the successes achieved across various sectors under the Ministry’s purview. “We are now in a position to perform even better in 2025,” he said, as he outlined the Minis-try’s accomplishments and plans for improvement.