The Guyana Fire Service today received over $1 billion in new firefighting equipment, with Fire Chief, Gregory Wickham calling the investment the largest ever for the Fire Service.

The new fleet of vehicles for the Fire Service includeS forty pick-ups, three ambulances, two fire bowsers along with water tenders. A telescopic firefighting vehicle, which was also procured, will also be joining the fleet soon.

The equipment was produced by UK Company Angloco Ltd.

Speaking at the Commissioning exercise today, the Fire Chief said the country has been facing new challenges as it relates to firefighting.

He said the new equipment will assist Firefighters to serve areas that were not logistically possible previously.

“With the commissioning of these appliances, we would be able to reach those communities that were unreached for many years. Your support not only strengthens our Fire Service, but also ensures that our communities remain resilient and protected in times of need during times of fire,” the Fire Chief noted.

In remarks, Home Affairs Minister, noted that the investment by the Government should not be seen in isolation. He said the Guyana Fire Service continues to battle a number of fires in the Hinterland and on the Coastland and would sometimes face challenges of resources.

He said the acquisition of the vehicles and their placements are imperative in decreasing the response time going forward.

“We want to have and we are working on building faster response systems, more efficient response systems, we have put in place a monitoring room with cameras and GPS tracking for vehicles, we want to make sure that the vehicles are properly managed, tracked and do not fall into misuse and to call on managers of the fire service and firefighters and the emergency medical technicians to consider what we do, particularly at this momentous occasion and be focused on protecting our people,” the Home Affairs Minister urged.

The Minister said that the GFS has also seen a tremendous turnaround in its response to emergencies with the construction of six new fire stations, which were recently commissioned.

He signaled the Government’s intention to increase the number of fire boats patrolling the waterways to ensure the safety of wharves.

President Irfaan Ali in his address noted the massive loss and disruption that fires continue to cause countrywide. To this end, he said the Government will ensure that key investments are made so that firefighting groups can be established within every NDC throughout the country, to supplement and support the Guyana Fire Service.

The President said although more fire stations have been built and more equipment procured, the administration is cognizant that that will not lead to full effectiveness because of the geographic layout of the country.

“And that is why we have to invest in communities and build the capacity within the communities. Timely response is critical to effective firefighting as the first few minutes of a fire is often decisive in preventing loss of life and minimizing damage, recognising this urgency we have prioritizing the deployment of earlier responders within communities to tackle fires immediately upon outbreak,” the President stated.

He said the end goal is to ensure that every community in Guyana is organised to respond to fires. 

The President also said that new fire hydrants will be installed across Georgetown and across populated communities around the country.

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