– Fire Chief warns

WITH the dry season and severe weather pattern being experienced countrywide, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle is advising against the indiscriminate burning of garbage and grass, especially in built-up areas with housing, since property can be damaged and lives can be put at risk.

“People must understand that to use fire to do land clearing and garbage disposal has its dangers in the dry season,” he said.

He explained that when the weather is dry and persons ignite fires to burn refuse and other items, the fires — often left unattended — could spread very quickly to utility poles and fences, while smoke can get into homes and affect the elderly and those with asthma.

Gentle noted that some persons are in the habit of igniting grass during land-clearing exercises, and when that fire gets out of control, the Guyana Fire Service is summoned to put out the blaze.

He emphasised that these fires can be avoided if people dispose of their garbage in a better manner, by utilising the services of the waste disposal agencies.

“If the fires include garbage like old tyres and those kinds of things, it affects people. I would like to reiterate the call for persons to stop doing these burnings, because they could get out of control and people’s property could be damaged or destroyed,” he said.