SINCE the Irfaan Ali-led government took office in 2020, millions of dollars have been expended on modern firefighting equipment and the construction of new fire stations.
The fruits of those investments and the government’s ongoing efforts to equip firefighters with the necessary resources while modernising the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), were there for all to see last Saturday at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence.

What is known thus far is that a fire of unknown origin broke out in a room on the fourth floor of the six-storey building which also houses a casino. At the time, there were 293 adults and four children registered at the hotel and it could be assumed that most of them were here for the CPL T20 games and the Cricket Carnival.
Less than 10 minutes after being alerted, fire officials were on the scene. In addition to water tenders and water carriers, a hydraulic platform (HP) was dispatched to the scene.
Video footage circulating on social media shows orange flames in a room on the fourth floor and based on the feedback from persons at the scene, firefighters sprang into action immediately.

They prevented what would have been an unimaginable disaster for the hotel owners and the people and government of this beautiful land, who were excited that the country was not only hosting the cricketing event, but was set to play in the finals the following night.
The cricketing event serves as a major tourist attraction for this small nation and the destruction of the hotel which overlooks the National Stadium where the matches are held, would have been a big blow for all stakeholders.

Firefighters employed two lines working from water carrier #14, water tender #116, HP #2, and an open water source to extinguish the fire. In the end, the room of origin and two adjacent rooms had significant damage.

Aside from a guest being treated for smoke inhalation, no serious injuries or casualties were reported.
Also commendable was the coordinated way fire officials and hotel staff worked to evacuate the guests. There is video footage to verify the high level of professionalism displayed by all involved in the rescue and evacuation efforts.

The hydraulic high-rise platform which was acquired by the GFS in May, played a critical role at the fire scene on Saturday night. The $255.6 million piece of equipment was used to rescue a number of persons who were trapped on the sixth floor.

The hydraulic platform can reach a height of 150 feet, which makes it ideal for the numerous high-rise buildings that are located in Georgetown and its environs.
Firefighters often get negative commentary from the public, but their actions at the Princess Hotel demonstrated their bravery and their commitment to ensuring that lives were not lost and damage to buildings and other property was limited.

The morale of the eight officers, 20 firefighters, and 11 emergency medical technicians who responded to the fire scene that night has been lifted 10 times over. They were honoured a day later for the excellent job they did to rescue persons and contain the fire.

The actions of these first responders are testimony that the GFS has the expertise and resources to effectively tackle any situation. Our only hope is that this attitude and success can be replicated at every fire scene henceforth.