The role of the Bermuda Fire Service in taking over fire, crash, and rescue operations at the Airport will be smaller at first than originally planned.

Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons said fire, crash, and rescue services were "a critical part of running any airport,'' and 30 firefighters trained in those skills will be needed when control of the Airport is assumed by Bermuda next June 1.

"The Bermuda Fire Service was not in a position to take that on,'' Dr.

Gibbons said. "We don't have enough trained fire, crash, and rescue (personnel) right now.'' Originally, officers from the Bermuda Fire Service were to be seconded to the Airport contractor as of June 1, when the US Navy stops providing fire, crash, and rescue services.

But Government does not want "mixed responsibility'' for Airport fire services, Dr. Gibbons said. It would have created a "complicated'' situation, and placed "additional burdens on both the fire service and the contractor.'' Instead, the contractor alone will be responsible for at least the first 18 to 24 months, he said.

"One of the reasons we essentially fine tuned this change...was a very clear sense in looking at other airports it was important that responsibility and reporting lines be very clearly set out.'' The Airport contractor Government selects, who will also be responsible for providing air traffic control and other services, will be "responsible for resourcing as much local help as possible,'' Dr. Gibbons said.

That will include Bermudians already working on fire, crash, and rescue on the Base, any Bermuda Fire Service firefighters who would prefer to train for the Airport job, and any non-experienced Bermudians who can be trained.

Nonetheless, "it is possible, and one might even say likely, that for a short period of time we'll have to supplement that group with trained people who may be non-Bermudian.'' It is hoped the Bermuda Fire Service will work closely with the contractor and help with selection and training, but "this hasn't been completely worked out,'' Dr. Gibbons said.

Meanwhile, Delegated Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman said a reorganisation of the entire Bermuda Fire Service continues to be studied by Management Services.

"I would hope they are reasonably well on with it,'' Mr. Pearman said.