– as investments improve emergency response
Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond on Monday commended the dedication and professionalism of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), pointing to sustained investments in modern equipment, infrastructure and personnel training as critical to improving emergency response and safeguarding lives and property.
“I always want to say to them that we are very proud of our fire service, because the government has made tremendous investments in the assets, but our greatest investments have been in our young people and in the training,” the minister stated while speaking to the media on Monday following the “Eyes Right” salute at the GFS’s 69th Anniversary March Past Parade in Georgetown.
She recognised the dedication of firefighters who routinely place themselves at risk to respond to emergencies.
The minister explained that the resources provided to the service are intended to deliver tangible improvements in emergency response, including reducing the time it takes firefighters to reach incidents and limiting the potential for loss of life and property.
The establishment of a new fire station in Campbellville, Georgetown, has already demonstrated the value of that approach. According to the minister, firefighters responded to a fire at a children’s home in under two minutes.
Minister Walrond also pointed to improvements in firefighting capacity, including modern fire tenders, fire boats and an expanding fire hydrant network, which have strengthened the service’s ability to contain fires before they spread to neighbouring buildings.
“These things should not be overlooked or undervalued,” she said.
Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham said the service’s 69 years of operation reflect its continued commitment to providing humanitarian assistance, extending beyond fire suppression to emergency medical support delivered by its Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
The fire service currently has more than 5,000 hydrants across regions. The government will add about 120 more by year-end, with another 2,000 targeted for installation next year.
The fire chief urged citizens to remain vigilant and report fires promptly, noting that early notification is critical to preventing incidents, including grass fires, from spreading to homes and other structures.
Members of the public can contact the GFS through 912 or 226-2411-13 to report emergencies.
