The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is seeking to educate the public about firefighting procedures and to inform that fire engines do not show up to a fire without water which is an oft-repeated statement especially by fire victims.
To this end, GFS Operations Department conducted a special demonstration of a fire truck to show what actually occurs at a fire scene, a release yesterday from the GFS stated.
At the demonstration, Divisional Officer Operations, Clive McDonald, explained the process while firefighters got into action to reenact what would normally take place when responding to fires across the country. The exercise, the release noted, aimed to dispel a common misperception among the public, that fire trucks arrive at fire scenes without water in their tanks.
As such, the GFS made it clear that a fire engine will never show up at a location without water.
The release explained that a water tender has the capacity to carry up to 400 gallons of water, whereas water bowsers have the capacity to carry over 2,000 gallons of water. However, it stressed that 400 gallons of water can be exhausted within two minutes.
Further, when firefighters arrive on a scene, they will use water from their tank’s supply while scouting the area for an open source of water (canal, trench) or a nearby fire hydrant, depending on the magnitude of the fire.
There is also a system called a water relay that is used to pump water onto a fire. This comprises a number of pumps spaced at intervals along a route between a water source and the point where the water is required.
The GFS wants to dispel “presumptions and misunderstandings” that suggest the service does not prioritise the welfare of this nation and everyone living in it. “We shall continue our efforts to inform and educate the public. We will continue striving to consistently deliver dependable service across the nation and will work to improve both our operations and the services we offer,” the release assured.
