ACTING Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham on Monday visited the island of Leguan to meet with residents, and introduce the initiative of auxiliary firefighters while announcing that fire hydrants will be installed on the island.

The meeting was conducted at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in the company of Chairman Lachhman Dwarkha; leader of the Leguan Community Policing Group Mustapha Zaman; and representatives of the Guyana Fire Service and several residents.

The Fire Chief, during brief remarks at the meeting explained the importance of auxiliary firefighters on the island, as well as their roles and responsibilities.

According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), following a recent fire at Wakenaam, the Fire Service began training persons to conduct firefighting within these remote communities.

“While there are plans for the construction of fire stations on these islands, in the interim, volunteers will be trained in firefighting, fire safety, and fire prevention. Firefighting equipment, including a light pump and hoses, will also be provided for the volunteers to be used in the event of a fire,” the GFS noted.

A team from the Guyana Fire Service will visit the island next week to conduct the training, along with inspections of government buildings and school visits.

Additionally, Wickham informed the gathering that hydrants will be installed on the island, as some engineers will be visiting soon to earmark the most suitable locations for placement.