(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has recorded at least 68 house fires across Regions Five and Six so far this year, one of which claimed the life of a 62-year-old woman.
Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald, who oversees Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), provided the statistics to the media, noting that the number of house fires recorded in 2026 has already surpassed the 67 recorded in 2025.
Fire destroyed this Blairmont, West Bank Berbice home, killing 62-year-old Bibi Ramprashad.
A former government building in New Amsterdam, Berbice was razed back in January.
The figures formed part of a wider tally of 537 fire incidents of varying magnitude recorded this year. These included fires involving 10 government buildings, one church, 12 vehicles, two vessels and four bonds, as well as grass fires, rubbish fires and electrical fires, among other incidents.
On June 2, 62-year-old Bibi Ramprashad, a wheelchair-bound pensioner, died in an early-morning fire which destroyed her home at Blairmont Village, West Bank Berbice. She is the only recorded fire-related fatality for 2026, compared with no deaths recorded in 2025.
Grass fire in Stanleytown, Berbice.
McDonald also highlighted a sharp increase in grass fires, which he attributed partly to the prevailing El Niño weather pattern, which is predicted to persist into mid-2027.
According to the figures provided, the GFS recorded 256 grass fires so far this year. September accounted for the highest number, with 128 incidents, followed by February with 49.
The figures represent a significant increase compared with 2025, when 49 grass fires were recorded for the entire year. September was also the month with the highest number of grass fires last year, accounting for 31 incidents.
However, McDonald said the fires were not caused by weather conditions alone, pointing to negligence by persons who light fires to dispose of garbage and fail to ensure that the flames are properly extinguished.
Divisional Fire Officer, Clive McDonald.
“There is a massive increase in grass fires due to people who light fire and have a tendency of leaving them unattended, and they will spread to open fields and open lands and so forth,” the fire officer said.
McDonald further disclosed that, among 390 cases assessed, 344 fires were classified as deliberately set, while 46 were deemed malicious.
He also raised concerns about fires involving abandoned buildings, noting that structures occupied by vagrants were sometimes affected by fires that could be either accidental or deliberately set.
The fire officer made the disclosures as the GFS observes Fire Prevention Month under the theme, “Charge into Fire Safety, Charging is a Superpower.”
McDonald said the agency would intensify its public education campaign to promote fire prevention and safety during the observance.
“During this period, the Guyana Fire Service, we will intensify our campaign in spreading the message on fire prevention and safety, because the Guyana Fire Service alone cannot do fire prevention. It has to be done in collaboration with other agencies, and more so, the citizens of this country,” he said.
Source: Kaieteur News
