IN recent years our country has been beset by an increasing number of fires, the most recent one in Kingston, which has put the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) under tremendous pressure.

Unfortunately, the comments on the work of the GFS have been mostly negative, and in some cases even justifiably so. However, what most people seem to overlook is that firefighters are engaged in one of the most dangerous jobs – anywhere in the world – where their lives and limbs are at extremely high risks. As such, society should be much more encouraging, supportive and sympathetic to our firefighters.

It was therefore, most heartening to hear the praises that were showered on our fire fighters by UK firefighting expert, Mr. Kevin Adcock. Coming from a country with a great history of fire fighting skills and expertise, Mr. Adcock should know what he is talking about.

“I had the opportunity to visit the area of the Kingston fire. In my professional opinion, the performance of the firemen was exemplary. I don’t think that my officers, using the most up-to-date, modern, highly trained, well-appointed services in the world would have (done) much better,” Adcock declared.

Having already made an assessment of prevailing weather conditions and what is at the disposal of the local fire fighters, Adcock observed:  “Your task here, to put out fires within Georgetown, is a difficult one and I don’t envy you in any way, shape or form.”

According to him, the Guyanese are faced with what he termed every professional firefighter’s worst nightmare.

“You have dried timber buildings, strong winds, a lack of reliable water supply, something that I can’t imagine, from my experience, in the UK,” he remarked.

So while we Guyanese only see the negatives, an outsider has seen the positives and has recognised and acknowledged the constraints and challenges which our firefighters are confronted with.

According to the US NEPA (National Fire Protection Agency): “House fires cause millions of dollars of structural damage, injuries and deaths each year. Inadequate safety features–including non-working smoke detectors–often lead to a large loss to the home or death to family members and pets. You may have an idea on what the number one cause of a house fire is. However, you could be surprised over US$800 million worth of property damage was a direct result in cooking and kitchen fires. Over 140,000 calls came into fire departments about a kitchen fire that was out of control. In 2007, NFIRS reports that over US$14 billion of property damage was reported nationally. This includes home fires as well as outside forest fires and vehicles. However, the damage from private homes in all types of fires reach into US$7 billion in loss.”
Indeed in our country, house fires are the most prevalent ones, with the occasional industrial or other fires. Therefore, there should be greater attention paid to the causes of house fires and steps should be taken to help prevent such fires including a more intensive national educational and awareness programme.