THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) will get a further boost with the approval, by Cabinet through the Ministry of Home Affairs, for the employment of an additional 84 ranks. This follows the GFS expansion with the establishment of new fire stations across the country, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee said Friday.
He told a media briefing that the GFS strength is now 427 but, with the addition of   fire stations, apart from hiring auxiliaries, the need for more ranks was recognised.
Rohee said, with the recruitment of the 84, the GFS will have its full complement, of 511, at all fire stations countrywide.
He said the GFS will also improve its water carrying capacity with the purchase of  bowers to accompany tenders to fire sites.
According to him, the interior locations have not been left out, in terms of the Hinterland Protection Plan. Mahdia, Lethem, Kwakwani, Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, were targeted for the provision of either a trailer pump or an all-terrain water tender.
Rohee said the GFS has not restricted its firefighting capability to the coastland but has extended it to the interior.
In a previous interview, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle had alluded to the Hinterland Protection Plan, designed to protect the named communities, to where vehicles and equipment are to be shipped by the end of this month.
Gentle said personnel from the areas identified will be trained and, in fact, training has already commenced in Region One (Barima/Waini) at Port Kaituma and Mabaruma.
He said, for each location listed, between 15 and 25 persons will be trained as part of the auxiliary.
Gentle disclosed, as well, that a fire station is being constructed at Diamond, East Bank Demerara and another is expected to be commissioned at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.