Local firefighting capacity boosted with new workers, vehicles

Recognising that the first few minutes of a fire are critical in preventing loss of life and minimising damage, new volunteer firefighting groups in every Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) should be up and running by the end of January 2025.

These groups will consist of persons employed under the government’s part-time job initiative.

And President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday revealed that they will receive training to become an integral part of the human resource base of the Guyana Fire Service.

To ensure this venture is well-implemented, the President tasked the Chief of Defence Staff, the Commissioner of Police, the Fire Chief, the Director of Prisons and the National Security Advisor to work with regional commanders to ensure the groups are fully operational.

This move is part of a comprehensive plan to enhance emergency response systems in Guyana.

Equipping communities with modern firefighting tools is another focus. And 40 specialised firefighting vehicles, that cost $910.8 million, were also procured to be placed in NDCs across the country. The vehicles were procured from Angloco, a UK company.

“They have all the assets within this vehicle, they have the pumps [and] they have everything that the big fire tender would have except that initial water storage capacity,” the Head of State said.

Along with the vehicles communities will be equipped with modern firefighting balls.

“Our vision is to ensure that almost every community in Guyana is organised to respond to fires within their precincts, equipped with essential firefighting tools and supported by accessible fire tenders.

“Through these efforts we aim to empower communities to take immediate action upon the outbreak of a fire while they await the dispatch of fire tenders from the Guyana Fire Service,” President Ali explained.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, highlighted a $1.2 billion investment in 2024, which includes the acquisition of the 40 vehicles, three ambulances, two bowsers, a telescopic firefighting vehicle, a new fireboat, and additional water tenders.

To prevent misuse, cameras and GPS tracking will monitor the use of these vehicles and equipment.

“We have put in place a monitoring room with cameras and GPS tracking for the vehicles, we want to make sure that the vehicles are properly maintained, management, tracked and do not fall into misuse,” Benn revealed.

Additionally, six new fire stations have been constructed in Eccles, Wales, Ogle, Leonora, Diamond.

On Wednesday too, the new $635.5 million Fire Service headquarters was officially commissioned. Other stations at Charity, Parika, Wisroc, and Soesdyke are being developed.