The Guyana Fire Service was yesterday finally able to extinguish a wildfire that raged through Rome on the East Bank of Demerara on Friday and large swathes of land have been left charred.
Stabroek News visited the area yesterday and interviewed Bobby Gopi, a contractor from Junior Sammy Inc, who was present at the scene. He said, “Sometimes, the fire is triggered by bottles that are recklessly thrown into the dry bushes, and when combined with the wind, it can easily ignite large areas of vegetation.”
He added, “Sometimes, a spark from our machinery can unknowingly set off a fire. You don’t notice it until you see smoke, and suddenly, there’s a full-blown fire.” Gopi stated that the brushfires have disrupted their work, forcing him and his colleagues to leave the area due to the heavy smoke. He mentioned that the fire service has been responding to these incidents, “We mainly suffer from the smoke, but the fire service has been actively involved.”
Gopi pointed out that the fires have been erupting in different areas, and due to the extensive vegetation, the fires spread rapidly, “It can go from one end to the other side of the road.”
Stabroek News observed that six different areas were partially burnt, with smoke still coming from the ground in two separate locations. Efforts were made to contact the Guyana Fire Service Prevention Department, but unfortunately, they could not be reached.
The fire in Rome initially started around 8:56 am on Friday and was quickly extinguished. However, it reignited at 1:20 pm, rapidly escalating in size and intensity, exacerbated by the dry conditions.
In a statement on Thursday night, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said that the fire had ravaged two 30-acre lots which are intended for private industrial development. The GFS urged landowners to desist from using fire for land clearing at this time and to diligently monitor their lands and surrounding areas for any signs of potential wildfire ignition. It added that it is crucial for residents to remain vigilant and monitor their lands for any signs of potential brushfires
And according to the Berbice Fire Service, 400 brushfires have been put out in the region for last month.
