CHIEF Fire Officer, Mr. Marlon Gentle has announced that a Hinterland Community Fire Prevention Programme is underway at Lethem,

Mahdia, Kwakwani, Mabaruma, Kumaka and Port Kaituma.
He said all those places will be provided with firefighting capabilities shortly,
In addition, the GFS will be receiving additional tenders and tankers to boost its current fleet as the emphasis on increased water carrying capacity is undertaken in areas where such resources are, sometimes, hard to come by and pose a challenge to firefighting efforts.
Gentle disclosed that the GFS is on a continuous expansion programme with the Diamond Fire Station, at East Bank Demerara, soon to be completed, and a new training facility under construction at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
He made the disclosures when reporting that Fire Prevention Week activities were successful because the many safety exhibitions and community outreaches countrywide were well attended.
Gentle said the events were staged in Regions 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) and 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) at Wales and Uitvlugt; the Guyana National Stadium, National Cultural Centre tarmac and in front Fogarty’s in the city; Lusignan, East Coast Demerara and Albion, Corentyne.
He said, on those occasions, persons in attendance were given pamphlets and other literature.
The Fire Chief said they also had four media sessions on National Communications Network (NCN) television and radio, where they highlighted prevention and safety and the functions of the GFS.

HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY
The celebration, last week, started with residents also visiting the various fire stations where they were reminded of the human responsibility of ensuring safety for all.
Gentle said, in keeping with the theme ‘Fire safety is everyone’s business: Get involved now’ they went into several schools and conducted sessions with the children on the dangerous consequences of fires and other topics critical to fire prevention and safety.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that this year, so far, 87 buildings were destroyed, while 23 others were severely damaged by fire.
Ten precious lives were lost (five children and five adults) and 227 people left homeless, mostly due to unsafe practices such as carelessness, leaving children unattended, theft and careless use of electricity as well as malicious destruction of property.
Meanwhile, Gentle also reiterated the need for citizens, especially in this dry season, to dispose of their waste (garbage) and other materials by utilising disposal services instead of wantonly getting rid of refuse by burning.
He said the GFS has been overwhelmed with calls of “bush fires” across the country and urged persons to desist from such practices since it is a health hazard and, at the same time, poses danger to life and property.