THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) on Sunday held a march-past in celebration of its 67th anniversary and Fire Prevention Month 2024.

A press release stated that the parade comprised 120 ranks from fire stations across the country, and was led by Divisional Officer (Ag) Suresh Persaud, with Assistant Divisional Officer (Ag) Patrick Daniels serving as his second-in-command.

Each rank represented one of the five contingents: the gray-and-black contingent, the Indigenous contingent, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) contingent, the fire-kit contingent and the sports contingent.

These contingents were followed by appliances of the GFS, including the hydraulic platform, water tenders, ambulances, and support vehicles.

The release also stated that during his brief remarks, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn acknowledged the challenging circumstances under which the GFS operates with limited resources, noting periodic surges in fires, as well as fires in hinterland regions.

The minister urged business owners and homeowners to equip their properties with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and buckets of sand, or to ensure that water is readily available in case of a fire.

Furthermore, Minister Benn congratulated the Guyana Fire Service on its anniversary and commended the ranks for an excellent parade.

Meanwhile, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Gregory Wickham reflected on the Fire Service’s 67-year history, expressing gratitude to those who laid the foundation for what the organisation has become today.

He also highlighted that the Fire Service is celebrating 50 years of fire- prevention efforts and that ranks are actively participating in activities to raise awareness and prevent fires.

The CFO renewed his appeal to the public to ensure that their premises are properly equipped to prevent fires and to maintain clear and accessible exits for evacuation.