‘Most’ deficiencies at Mahdia Fire Station rectified; more firefighters needed – Fire Chief tells COI
Acknowledging that the Mahdia Fire Station, with the lone appliance in the township, faced with a number of shortcomings during the dormitory fire in May, Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham Thursday said actions were taken and most of the inadequacies were addressed.
A contradictory Wickam told the COI that though they did not have “essential” firefighting tools when the fire broke out at the Mahdia Secondary school dormitory, they were “sufficiently” equipped to respond to the fire.
He made this disclosure as he responded to questions when he appeared before the ongoing Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Mahdia tragedy.
The Commission which is chaired by Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh heard from Wickham that the Mahdia Fire Station was not equipped with the fundamental firefighting tools such breathing apparatus, sledge hammer and cutting tools.
These tools, according to Wickham, were not catered for the Mahdia Fire Station in the Guyana Fire Service budget.
“I am still trying to wrap my mind around a fire station not having breathing apparatus, which is perhaps the most important piece of appliance,” attorney Keoma Griffith, who is leading evidence into the inquiry said.
In response, Wickham said “at the time we did not have them in our stores. Through our budgetary allocation we were not able to acquire at the time”.
Officer-in-charge of the Mahdia Fire Station, Ryan Scott, who previously gave evidence, told the Commission how firefighting operations were delayed due to a number of deficiencies.
He had said he informed Wickham of the issues.
The deficiencies which were highlighted in an email sent to Wickham include a change of tire for the fire truck, replacement of headlight, broken pedals, rotten cab on the truck and the provision of sirens.
After he was informed, Wickham told the inquiry that a team consisting of the fire service maintenance officer was set up and dispatched to the location to have the issues sorted.
“They effected repairs. They took in tires and made the necessary changes too…They were able to fix the issues affecting the appliance…then we had to get a contractor who did the bodywork on the vehicle,” Wickham said.
However, while he was unable to inform the Commission whether all of the discrepancies were rectified, he said “most” were.
But despite the issues at the time, Wickham told the Commission that firefighters should not have been prevented from responding to a fire.
“…They were given enough…firefighting pieces of equipment that they can do firefighting with,” Wickham said.
He added, “They were not given breathing apparatus but that would not have prevented them from conducting majority firefighting”.
As public hearings into the inquiry continue, the Commission also heard from officers attached to the fire service that the Mahdia Fire Station did not have the required capacity to respond to the fire. They were supported by auxiliary firefighters.
This was confirmed by Wickham, who said at present seven firefighters are stationed there. At the time of the fire, only three were on duty.
And to address this, Wickham said a batch of recruits are currently being trained to supplement the existing capacity.
Additionally, Wickham said despite Mahdia being a “high-risk” area, there is no fire hydrant in close proximity to the Mahdia Secondary School.
And when the tragedy occurred, the Commission continued to hear how there were no fire safety mechanisms in place.
The dorm mother and the security guards were never trained to use fire equipment and what action should be taken in the event of a fire.
The dorm mother also took the stand on Thursday.
