THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) responded swiftly to a fire at Lot 12 Camp Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, on Monday.

The blaze occurred within the Camp Street Prison, a three-storey concrete and metal structure owned by the Government of Guyana. The GFS received the distress call at 14:10 hrs, with the first responding units arriving on the scene just six minutes later at 14:16 hrs.

The fire crew brought a total of 8517 liters of water and dispatched four units, including Water Tenders #95, 118, and 105, along with Water Carrier 18. A team of 18 firefighters worked quickly to control the blaze.

The fire destroyed one mattress and a quantity of clothing inside the prison, but no inmates were displaced. However, two individuals sustained injuries: Christopher Stanley, 25, suffered second-degree burns on various parts of his body, while Delon Blake, 35, received first-degree burns to his upper right shoulder. Both individuals were treated for their injuries.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire was ignited by an inmate who used a lighter to set a mattress ablaze. The flames then spread to nearby combustible materials, but quick action by prison officers helped contain the fire before it spread further. Using three 4.5 kg dry chemical extinguishers, the officers managed to prevent the fire from escalating until the arrival of the GFS.

The Guyana Fire Service commended the prison officers for their swift and effective response, which helped to minimise damage. The GFS is continuing its investigation to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and has urged institutions across the country to review fire safety protocols. The service emphasised the importance of maintaining fire prevention and suppression equipment to avoid similar incidents.