Port-de-Paix residents welcome first fire truck in decades, hope service returns for good

PORT-DE-PAIX— After more than two decades without a functioning fire service, residents of Port-de-Paix have welcomed the arrival of a long-awaited fire truck and ambulance — equipment they hope will mark a turning point for public safety in the Northwest Department’s largest city.

The vehicles were donated by the Canadian Peace and Security Officers Training Association (CPSOTA), a Montreal-based nonprofit supported by members of the Haitian diaspora. The shipment is part of a broader $3 million donation that has delivered 13 fire trucks and 10 ambulances across Haiti in recent months to strengthen the country’s emergency response capacity.

For many Haitians, access to basic fire and rescue services remains inconsistent or nonexistent. Outside Port-au-Prince and a few major cities, municipalities often lack trained personnel, functioning equipment and reliable funding. Fires, floods and traffic accidents frequently leave residents to fend for themselves, relying on neighbors with buckets of water, unconventional methods or improvised transport to hospitals.

Port-de-Paix, a coastal city of over 400,000 people and the capital of the Northwest Department, had gone more than 20 years without a formal fire department, according to local officials and residents.

Mayor Josué Alusma told The Haitian Times the equipment arrived on Feb. 12 after he appealed to central government authorities. The revived fire prevention and rescue service, previously attached to the departmental police, will now operate under City Hall management.

“It is thanks to our advocacy that this equipment has arrived here in Port-de-Paix to serve and protect all residents of my municipality,” Alusma said.

Some residents, however, questioned the mayor’s claim of credit, noting longstanding infrastructure challenges in the city.

For others, the focus is less on politics and more on protection.

“For a large urban area like Port-de-Paix, it was unacceptable and very risky to operate without at least one fire department,” said Jocelin Oscar, 35. “We live here without any protection against fires. We need at least three additional fire trucks to ensure greater safety.”

Oscar welcomed the donation but pleaded with the authorities for more than a fire truck and an ambulance. “We hope that well-trained professionals and additional equipment will arrive soon to provide consistent, effective services.”

The absence of fire services has had lasting consequences.

In 2009, Pierline Charles lost her home in the Démélus neighborhood when a fire spread unchecked. Without firefighters to respond, she said, the flames consumed everything. Unable to rebuild, the mother of five relocated to the countryside.

“If there had been a service in the city, my calls might have been enough to help me avoid losing my home,” Charles said.

Cabinetmaker Jacklin Maréus recalled losing his woodworking shop in 2017, valued at more than 3 million gourdes or over $23,000, after a fire destroyed the business.

“In the absence of firefighters, my relatives and friends were unable to put it out using simple containers of water,” he said. “With the arrival of the firefighters, I believe losses from major fires will be reduced.”

Building capacity beyond equipment

City officials agree with residents that equipment alone is not enough. The municipality plans to recruit 25 young residents for specialized training to operate the service.

“After more than 20 years, the former fire department employees are no longer available. We therefore need new recruits who will receive proper training,” said Vacneur Cédieu, director of Port-de-Paix City Hall.

Because of limited local expertise, officials say trainers may come from Cap-Haïtien, Port-au-Prince or abroad.

Nationally, CPSOTA has combined equipment donations with training initiatives. On Nov. 14, 2025, the organization concluded a two-week emergency response training in Pétion-Ville for 200 young participants, including firefighters and civil protection agents. The sessions focused on rapid intervention techniques, disaster management, first aid and fire suppression. During the closing ceremony, CPSOTA President and CEO Harold Turnier formally handed over fire trucks and ambulances to Haitian authorities.

Municipal leaders in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, including Pétion-Ville and Tabarre, praised the partnership, calling it part of a broader strategy to modernize emergency response in a country highly exposed to hurricanes, floods and earthquakes.

A diaspora-driven example

Residents in Port-de-Paix say CPSOTA’s contribution demonstrates how diaspora-led initiatives can address critical gaps in public services.

“This donation should serve as an example of the patriotic spirit of the Haitian diaspora,” said Raymond Fragellus, 65. “It shows attachment to major cities like Port-de-Paix that have long been neglected.”

Others urged Haitian-led diaspora organizations to invest in sustainable development projects that strengthen local institutions rather than provide short-term aid.

For now, the fire truck remains parked, awaiting full operational rollout. But for residents who have watched homes and businesses burn with no professional response, its presence alone signals hope.

“After years of vulnerability, Port-de-Paix may finally be rebuilding a frontline defense against disaster — one truck at a time,” Fragellus concluded.

The post Port-de-Paix residents welcome first fire truck in decades, hope service returns for good appeared first on The Haitian Times.