THE Fire Advisory Board, in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) and Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company hosted a one-day safety training on Thursday.

It targeted the business community to enable the participants to acquire the basic knowledge in fire protection, so as to disseminate the importance of safety in their workplace.
The programme was conducted at Everest Cricket Club Pavilion, Camp Road and Carifesta Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.
Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle, in his presentation, said that the GFS is pleased to be associated with the event since there is need for partnership with the stakeholders in the private sector.
Noting the large turn out, Gentle said it shows there is an interest in collaborating since it is critical for stakeholders, so they can protect their employees and property as they implement the basic fire safety prevention methods for people to operate in a safe environment.
Gentle told the gathering that, with the changing architectural landscape in the city and its environs, there is need for the implementation of fire prevention since there are huge storage bonds attached to businesses.

Also needed
He explained that most buildings are theft proof but fire safety is also needed since there are a few factors that need to be considered, such as proper ventilation, air conditioning installation and fire suppression systems.
Gentle said the GFS recommends that every building be equipped with fire safety mechanisms in which more responsibility should be demonstrated because of the risks involved in a blaze.
He pointed out; too, that builders need to be in compliance with the building code for fire safety and a uniformed one for Guyana is in the drafting stage to enforce it.
Gentle said the GFS has staged seven training programmes in which the tourism and hospitality sector, several petroleum based companies and the private sector were involved and there is an exchange programme with the United Kingdom Loss, Fire and Rescue Unit.
He said that GFS ranks will be able to go there for specialised training so that they can provide a better service and even though there are many challenges they have maintained a level of service.
Gentle added that the GFS notes that there are more incidents of vehicle fires, the misuse of electricity, malicious fires and social issues which contribute to many within recent times and he challenged all in attendance to become fire safety conscious.
He said that they have opened eight new fire stations and equipped auxiliary units in interior locations, and, next year they are looking at the construction of a fire station in La Grange, West Bank Demerara area and to upgrade of the Leonora Fire Station and the completion of the Leonora Training School, at West Coast Demerara.
Gentle disclosed that they are also looking at the possibility of establishing fire stations at Leguan and Wakenaam in the outreach.
Making brief remarks was Matthew Kissoon, top sales representative of Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Ltd, who reiterated the need for fire safety and prevention.

Grow stronger
Chairman of the Fire Advisory Board, Rajendra Singh said that the fourth fire prevention seminar is welcomed as the tripartite relationship continues to grow stronger and now includes Hand-in-Hand.
He observed that, this year, they attracted just about 25 persons and are now closer to 100, realising an almost 100 percent growth in participation over the years.
Singh commented: “We have now outgrown our previous venue. This augurs very well for the importance that this particular issue of fire prevention plays in our everyday lives. Fire prevention is a very logical and proactive issue and its results are very difficult to measure since it is well nigh impossible to measure the cost that is saved when an accident is prevented by good housekeeping measures and such other simple fire prevention techniques.
“A fire avoided by prudent measures cannot be measured if that event never actually happened through the exercise of good fire prevention habits and techniques.”
He recalled that, on October 11, 2006, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee re-established the Fire Advisory Board, which derives its authority from the Fire Prevention Act Chapter 22:01 of the Laws of Guyana and its primary duty is to advise the minister on issues pertaining to the prevention of fires.
Singh said there is a dire need for the speedy implementation of the national building code and smoother and more efficient operations of all the agencies that oversee this important issue of fire prevention.
“We recently lobbied the M&CC to include the Government Electrical Department as part of the building planning approval process, since we consider this as a missing component in the building permit process. Another very sore issue is that of derelict buildings in and around the city.”
He remarked that those structures continue to pose a serious threat to life, limb and property and the GCCI also lent its voice to this sore issue but nothing has since been done about the dangerous hazards. There are still more than 20 structures that have been identified by the GFS for demolition.
Yesterday’s event was coordinated by GFS Fire Prevention Officer Gregory Wickham and some of the topics discussed were fire prevention, roles of the Works Brigade, chemistry of combustion, control and management of fire hazards, fire protection of storage buildings, bonds and warehouses, evacuation procedures and portable extinguishers and practical demonstration.

(By Michel Outridge)