AS Guyana’s construction industry expands with the building of more and more residential houses and high-rise structures, investments in appropriate firefighting equipment and a focus on timely response are critical.

Both of these things worked in the Guyana Fire Service’s (GFS) favour at last Saturday’s fire at Fireside Suites on Garnett Street. Firefighters were able to contain a huge inferno on the fourth floor, eliminating the treat of the complete destruction of the building.

The GFS responded to the fire with three fire tenders, but it was the deployment of the Bronto Skylift that allowed firefighters to gain access to the area where the fire was raging. They acted quickly and using what they had learnt during training along with this new piece of equipment, they averted a major disaster.

This modern piece of firefighting equipment is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and can reach approximately 120 feet in the air, allowing for effective overhead firefighting and rescue operations.

Its use was invaluable that day as it provided firefighters with a safe vantage point to apply water directly to the source of the blaze, effectively preventing it from spreading to the neighbouring floors and adjacent buildings. Had it not been at the scene, it would have been hard for the firefighters to battle the fire successfully and in a timely manner.

Many things could have gone wrong. Certainly, there would have been a disaster of an unimaginable magnitude. There could have been serious injuries or even death had it not been for the Bronto Skylift and the skillfulness of the firefighters who utilised it.
The effectiveness of the equipment and the dedication of the firefighting team were tested that day.

The GFS success underscores how much the government is committed to investing to ensure the safety of the population and the reduction of the fiery destruction of properties. It also confirms that the government is focused on making good buys and getting value for money.

In this year’s budget, $500 million was set aside to acquire firefighting equipment inclusive of a water boat, water bowsers, water tenders and other modern apparatuses for the GFS. A portion was also set aside for the ongoing training of firefighting personnel.

This significant move was government’s response to the alarming increase in fires countrywide. The goal was to focus on fire prevention and the protection of lives and assets by ensuring that the GFS was equipped with the appropriate tools and that firefighters possessed the requisite skills to effectively and safely function at a fire scene.

With the construction industry set for future expansion in the coming years, the government will no doubt prioritise the acquisition of firefighting equipment and ensure that firefighters are properly trained to protect the citizenry and their properties.

Investment in the modernisation of the GFS must also be part of the plan as Guyana moves one step closer to becoming the country we long for and the country we can be proud of.