Dear Editor,
Fire Chief Kalamadeen Edoo’s comments about constructing buildings with fire safety in mind are important. (`Alberttown building where two Venezuelans died was in breach of building code’, SN August 3, 2021)
However, does the Fire Department not bear a huge responsibility in ensuring fire safety as well? Can the Fire Chief say how many fire hydrants in the city and across the country are in working order? Can he say why in the city’s commercial area many passageways between buildings are allowed to be completely blocked by “shops” that pay a rental to the property owners? Are these passageways not supposed to be kept clear so that police, firefighters, etc. can gain access in case of an emergency?
Pavement vendors are also allowed to block exits and entrances to shops and even take up space on city roads which all create additional hazards should there be an emergency.
Having grilled windows and doors are a fact of life in Guyana. It’s unfortunate, but to leave anything unbarred is to invite robbers and bandits into your property and risk being murdered in the process.
Given this fact, can the Fire Chief say whether axes and sledge hammers are among the tools the fire fighters have on hand in case they should encounter a situation such as that tragic one in Alberttown? Were the firefighters who responded to that fire so equipped?
During a recent fire downtown, firefighters apparently did not even have torchlights which would have allowed them to find the origin of the fire through the thick smoke. That fire emitted billowing, black smoke for hours and the building was completely destroyed.
In the city and across the country, six storey buildings are becoming the norm. Can the Fire Chief say whether the Fire Department is equipped with ladders, hoses, and the necessary water pressure to reach these heights?
While there might well be a building code written up somewhere, who enforces it? How can a building be constructed then occupied if it is non-compliant with the building code? Can the Fire Chief explain?
While property owners bear some responsibility for fire safety, the state agencies in charge are surely just as responsible for following the regulations, and for having the proper tools and trained personnel that can deal with every and any emergency at any time. The blame does not lie with property owners alone.
Sincerely,
Ryhaan Shah
