To ensure the continuous availability of water for fire-fighting purposes in the city, the Fire Advisory Board has recommended the setting up of a special water main, with untreated water.
“A dedicated water main with untreated water to support firefighting should be established in the city with the Lamaha Canal being linked with the Demerara River,” the Board’s 2010 Annual Report said. The report was laid in the House during last Thursday’s sitting.
The Fire Advisory Board was re-established on October 11, 2006 by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee. The 12-member Board serves to “advise the Minister on all questions pertaining to the prevention of fires and matters incidental thereto.”
The Fire Advisory Board suggested “a koker system” or “intermediate pumps” with a network of fire hydrants/ mains going through the “built up” areas. This, the board, said would allow for drainage canals to have adequate water in the event of a fire, in and out of the rainy season.
“A reliable water supply is integral to the effective operation of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in conducting its work and this recommendation forms part of our comprehensive report submitted to the Honourable [Home Affairs] Minister,” the report said.
The Board also recommended that the GFS should “inspect commercial buildings annually after which some sort of certification should be issued to the property owner.” Property owners, the Board said, would then have to submit their certificate before they are granted insurance coverage. “This is another of the recommendations embodied in our report that can be acted upon but may need legislation to be enacted to guarantee enforcement,” the Board said.
Further, the Board recommended that “the Minister draft pertinent rules and regulations to flesh out the grey areas or loopholes in the Fire Prevention Act, as identified by the Guyana Fire Service.” This, the Board said, would enable the Fire Service to “operate in a much more efficient and effective manner in the smooth implementation of this Act.”
Noting some of the challenges to fire prevention, the Board said that faulty, outdated and overloaded electrical installations and the theft of electricity countrywide continue to contribute significantly to the high incidence of fires. “A collaborative approach is needed to halt this trend,” the Board stated.
Meanwhile, the Board said that during this year it will engage the leadership of the insurance industry and pursue the possibility of them contributing at least 1 percent of their premium income to the Fire Service. Other forms of collaboration will also be discussed.
Further, the Board said it will ensure that the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown would make good its promise to commence the demolition of derelict buildings exercise. This exercise was to be commenced in February.
One such building at the south-western corner of High and Barrack Streets was recently gutted by fire. At the fire scene, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told reporters that over the last three years, 27 buildings were identified by the Fire Service as being very dangerous. Of the 27 buildings, only about three have been pulled down, he disclosed.
He said in these cases, it was mainly the owners that had taken action and pulled them down.
