Command Room of Fire Services’ HQ being renovated

The Ministry of Works is renovating the Command Room of the Virgin Islands Fire & Rescue Services — a project expected to be completed by July.

The area — also known as the Watch Room — is where emergency calls are received from members of the community.

“It goes without saying that this room is vitally important to the ability of the Fire & Rescue Services to respond to emergency and we will comprehensively renovate this space to include a new air conditioning system, new electrical wiring and fixtures, new cabinetry and countertops, and new wall, ceiling and floor finishes,” Works Minister Kye Rymer has stated.

According to Rymer, news from the contractor — Metro Construction Ltd — is that the project is currently on schedule.

The Command Room is located on the ground floor at the Fire Services headquarters in Road Town and its renovation is part of a larger project being undertaken on that floor.

The scope of those works includes the demolition and installation of floor and wall tiles, windows, doors, electrical and plumbing fixtures. Works also include interior painting, the installation of new plumbing fixtures such as toilets, urinals and showers, fabrication and installation of vanities and cabinetry.

“To date, the majority of the demolition works have been completed and the installation of windows has commenced,” Rymer said in the House of Assembly recently.

He added: “The ground floor of the Road Town Fire headquarters is critical to the overall function and operation of the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services. First and most important it houses the Fire Officers in the barracks that serve our community. It is our intention to completely renovate the male and female barracks to ensure these officers have a comfortable working environment in which to work. Secondly, the ground floor holds all the equipment, apparatuses and material that support our Fire Officers and we want to renovate these spaces to ensure the storage of these critical equipment and apparatuses are in a suitable environment.”

Following the devastation of the 2017 hurricanes, initial works were undertaken to renovate the Road Town Fire Headquarters. The second floor, which houses the administrative personnel, was the first to be completed back in 2019.

And in 2020, the ministry undertook repairs to the various fire stations at Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada.