Over the past ten days, the Guyana Fire Service has faced a surge in fire incidents, responding to a total of 27 fires, including two tragic fatalities. Chief Fire Officer, Gregory Wickham, revealed in an exclusive interview with NCN News that the majority of these fires were determined to be of electrical origin.
Out of the 27 reported fires, eight involved buildings, underscoring the severity and urgency of the situation.
Chief Wickham expressed concern about the alarming nature of these incidents but assured that the Fire Service has the necessary response capabilities to address them.
One significant challenge highlighted by Chief Wickham is the obstruction faced by firefighters, including obstacles created by heavy grills on buildings.
These security measures, intended to prevent intruders, impede firefighters’ access to structures and complicate firefighting efforts.
Chief Wickham cited a specific example at Timehri where such obstacles posed difficulties for the fire service.
To enhance firefighting capacity, Chief Wickham reported ongoing efforts to install hydrants across the country.
The increased deployment of hydrants is aimed at providing readily available water sources for firefighting operations in various areas.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the Fire Service is actively engaged in community outreach to raise awareness of fire safety and prevention.
Education initiatives target households and communities, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures to mitigate the risk of fires.
The recent spike in fires underscores the critical role played by the Guyana Fire Service in emergency response and prevention efforts.
The collaborative approach, combining infrastructure upgrades, public awareness campaigns, and enhanced firefighting capabilities, reflects a commitment to addressing the challenges posed by the recent surge in incidents.