Guanaja is one of the Bay Islands of Honduras and is in the Caribbean. It is about 70 kilometres (43 mi) off the north coast of Honduras, and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the island of Roatan. One of the cays off Guanaja, also called Guanaja or Bonacca or Low Cay (or just simply, The Cay), is near the main island, and contains most of the approximately 5,538 people who live in Guanaja. The densely populated cay has been described as the Venice of Honduras because of the waterways that run through it. The other two main settlements on Guanaja are Mangrove Bight and Savannah Bight. Smaller settlements includes Pelican Reef, East End and North East Bight.
On 2 October 2021, a fire at dawn grew out of control and swept through Bonnaca Cay, engulfing some 200 structures. The Honduran military was called on to help with the rescue, dropping water onto the flames and extinguishing it. There were no casualties.
As a result of the fire (not the first for the island) a concerted effort has been started to rebuild the fire and rescue response to the island and the Cay. Promoted by the Mayor Spergeon Miller and the islands Fire Chief Terry Brooks, this effort will involve soliciting donations from individuals and non-profit organizations to provide training, equipment and infrastructure for the people of Guanaja.
We are currently doing a needs assessment to see what training, skills, and equipment would be needed to have an active and dedicated, MUNICIPAL-RUN, public safety organization to serve the citizens of Guanaja. The expectation would be that this program would not receive much, if any, assistance from the central government due to a lack of funds available.
A recent reevaluation of the Caye and the Island has indicated there is a desire to establish a Public Safety Department at the Municipal level to mitigate and respond to emergencies on Guanaja. Combined Municipal Police, Fire, Emergency Medical, and Rescue. The Municipal can pay for 5 full time staff, but remainder will have to be selected volunteers from various Guanaja communities and Bonacca, starting from “ZERO” on equipment and training.
This will chronical the beginning of that effort.
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