MINISTER of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds on December 20 appointed a three-person committee to investigate the fire service's response to the fire which killed Minister in the Ministry of Education Lisa Morris-Julian and two of her children in her home at Farfan Street, Arima, on December 16. He held a news briefing at his ministry during which he addressed reporters and presented instruments of appointment to the committee members – former chief fire officer Roosevelt Bruce (chairman), Occupational Safety and Health Authority chairman Kurt Cadette and Office of the Attorney General attorney Vashti Mahabir.
Initially, Hinds said the probe was being done to address public disquiet over the tragedy, but later when pressed said Cabinet would decide on any release of the report's findings.
Hinds said the fire had resulted in "a sad state of affairs." He said since the fire, conflicting stories had arisen around response times, resources, the existence of fire stations, water supply and vehicles. Many people had glibly commented, he said.
"We ventured no position but abject sadness, because the facts are not yet made known."
He said the National Security Council (NSC) had established the three-person team to inquire.
The Prime Minister who heads the NSC had previously indicated his approval for such a probe.
Hinds read out a list of about a dozen terms of reference for the inquiry.
Those included inquiring into the fire service's response to the fire, including to examine its general "policies, procedures and practices" for a fire.
The probe will look at the operations of the Arima and Tunapuna Fire Stations on December 16, including staffing levels plus the availability of equipment, water and vehicles.
Examining station log books of arrival and departure will help ascertain when the fire was reported and when the fire service arrived on the scene to begin operations, he said.
Investigators will get a comprehensive breakdown of the "steps, decisions and actions" of the fire service in their operations to tackle the blaze.
The probe will determine what safeguards the fire service used to protect life and property in that particular fire event.
It will also seek an account of the status of the fire upon arrival, and the availability of pipe-borne water there.
The role of WASA and the Arima Borough Council will be examined regarding the status of the fire at the scene and whether water was available (pipe-bone or otherwise), he added.
Hinds said the probe would also inquire into reports on the tragedy by the fire service, WASA, police service, forensic science centre, TTEC, National Command Centre, and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), the latter including the use of CCTV video footage.
The committee may also solicit information from individuals for eye-witness accounts of the fire, he added.
The inquiry will examine "all other material circumstances leading up to and surrounding the fatal incident," he said
Hinds said the committee would "prepare a comprehensive written report
