– Fire Chief Wickham
-by Nakasia Logan
The Guyana Fire Service is stepping up efforts to strengthen its firefighting capacity, with plans to install more fire hydrants across the country.
Fire Chief Officer Gregory Wickham says some five thousand hydrants are already in place, with additional installations planned to improve access to water, during emergencies.
Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham
The Fire Service is working to complete its targeted hydrant installations by the end of 2026, ahead of plans to install approximately 2,000 more – in 2027.
“The expectation is before the year is true, we continue to plant 120, and by next year we are hoping to plant about 2,000 hydrants throughout Guyana. So yes, it is a strong platform on which we are standing to ensure that we have the ready supply of water to do firefighting,” he said.
Wickham says priority is being given to locations where the risk to lives and property is greatest.
Alongside the new installations, the Guyana Fire Service continues to maintain older hydrants to ensure they remain operational, with more than one thousand functioning hydrants in and around Georgetown.
In the 2026 National Budget, the Guyana Fire Service received a $6.3 billion allocation to strengthen emergency response and firefighting capabilities.
The funding includes $1.1 billion for new and upgraded fire stations, $1.6 billion for additional firefighting equipment, and $250 million for the procurement of new fire hydrants.
As the GFS commemorates 69 years of service, the focus is on strengthening its capacity to respond, while urging citizens to play their part in preventing fires.
The public is reminded to call 912 or 226-2411 to 13 to report fires.