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– Fire Chief
Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle said the Guyana Fire Service recognises the need for an intensified Hinterland Protection Plan for far-flung interior areas, in which the GFS would be tasked with training persons, setting up auxiliaries, and also providing fire-fighting equipment and vehicles, in light of the rapid development taking place.
Gentle told the Guyana Chronicle that the Hinterland Protection Plan is designed for fire protection of certain identified communities, such as Mabaruma/Kumaka Landing, Port Kaituma, Mahdia, Lethem and Kwakwani.
He added that the GFS has already handed over two fire-fighting tenders, while three four-wheel vehicles with fire-fighting capabilities are to be shipped here by the end of this month.
Gentle stated that personnel from the areas identified will be trained; and in fact, training has already commenced in Region One – Port Kaituma and Mabaruma.
He noted that for each location listed, 15 to 25 persons will be trained as part of the auxiliaries for each area. And for Region 1 (Barima/Waini), more than 30 persons came forward for the training sessions, and were installed as the auxilliaries there.
Within recent times, there have been several interior fires, including the fire at Mahdia which destroyed several businesses, as well as bush fires; and with the development of these areas, there is a need for fire-fighting equipment and personnel to address these incidents.
Gentle explained that the GFS is mandated to set up support services to these hinterland communities, since there is rapid development and the fire-fighting capabilities were non-existent, but now mechanisms are in place and they can now deal with potential fires and disasters.
The Fire Chief added that, after training in the use of the vehicles, these will be sent to areas countrywide, especially in the hinterland locations.
Recently the GFS concluded two weeks of training in fire fighting techniques for volunteers at Port Kaituma and Mabaruma.
Gentle said that, overall, there has been a decrease in fires and fire calls. He also spoke of the successes of the GFS, in which the GFS is being supported by the MOHA and has grown over its 54 years of existence, with 14 fire stations countrywide.
The Chief Fire Officer also added that a fire station is being constructed at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and another is expected to be commissioned at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
He added that the GFS has been expanding its scope and has formulated the Hinterland Protection Plan in which far-flung areas in the interior will be equipped with trained volunteers and the necessary fire-fighting equipment in the event of a fire.
Gentle said that since people began moving to the hinterland and that area began developing, the need for a fire-fighting plan was introduced, since changes are taking place and there is a need to address interior fires.
