…as equipment procurement advances
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has spent $156.5 million on infrastructural upgrades so far this year, with work completed at the Campbellville Fire Station and ongoing at five other locations, according to the 2026 Mid-Year Report.
The report said works have advanced at the Ruimveldt, Timehri, Mahaicony, Cumberland and Tarlogie fire stations.
In addition to the infrastructural upgrades, $143.4 million was expended to advance the procurement of additional firefighting equipment. Contracts were also secured for three airport firefighting vehicles, seven water tenders and two water bowsers.
Members of the Guyana Fire Service.
Meanwhile, $47.3 million was spent on the procurement of 100 fire hydrants during the first half of the year, with another 110 expected to be procured by the end of 2026, the report stated.
The GFS also invested in training to strengthen its operational effectiveness. During the first six months of the year, $17.4 million was spent on training 107 recruits through a four-month basic training programme.
Additionally, 41 fire officers received intermediate-level fire investigation training in accordance with National Fire Protection Association standards. Advanced-level training is scheduled for the second half of the year, alongside training for another cohort of recruits.
On January 27, Kaieteur News reported that the Government had allocated $6.8 billion to strengthen and modernise the GFS in the 2026 National Budget, including plans to complete and commission several new fire stations.
During his budget presentation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said the investments were intended to strengthen the country’s firefighting capabilities, accelerate emergency response times and reduce the human and economic losses associated with fires.
Singh announced that $1.1 billion had been allocated to complete and commission fire stations at Onderneeming, Campbellville, Ruimveldt, Timehri, Mahaicony and Tarlogie. The programme also included the construction of new stations at Rosignol and No. 38 Village, as well as a Marine Fire Station at Port Georgetown.
These facilities are expected to complement stations constructed in 2025 at Charity, Parika, Diamond, Soesdyke and Wisroc, along with targeted upgrades to existing stations and living quarters.
The 2026 Budget also earmarked $1.6 billion for additional firefighting assets, including two airport firefighting vehicles, four water tenders and two water bowsers.
“The acquisition of advanced equipment represents a fundamental component in the enhancement of core firefighting capabilities and overall operational effectiveness,” Singh said. The minister further disclosed that $527.9 million was spent in 2025 on a range of equipment, including a crash tender, three ambulances, two water tenders, five all-terrain water tenders and a breathing apparatus refilling vehicle.
A further $503.1 million was spent last year to advance the procurement of more than 430 fire hydrants, while $250 million was budgeted for additional hydrants in 2026.
Source: Kaieteur News
