By Mia Anthony
Fire tore through the Guyana Prison Service living quarters yesterday in Kingston, completely gutting the building.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) received reports of a fire on Parade Street, Georgetown at around 9:26 am. As such, Water Tenders #85, #105, Prison Bowser, Land Rover #7, and Hydraulic Platform #3, with crews from various fire stations, were dispatched promptly, arriving at the scene around 9:32 a.m. They then commenced the task of containing the fire and preserving the surrounding buildings.
The dormitory which is said to have housed 30 prison officers, quickly disintegrated with the flames roaring through the entire building. Fire-fighters could be seen battling the flames from all angles, however, despite their best efforts, the raging flames quickly consumed the upper flat of the building.
Regional Fire Officer, Haimchandra Persaud, told reporters at the scene that the water pressure was insufficient, forcing firefighters to seek open sources of water. Thank-fully, they were able to access the Cowan Street canal and this afforded them “copious” amounts of water which resulted in the fire being put out quickly. He also informed that a request was made to the Guyana Water Inc to increase the pressure.
Persaud noted that the top priority for the GFS was the safe evacuation of the children in the neighbouring schools, namely Chase Academic Foundation, West Field Prep, Cherry Blossom Play School, and a Special Needs School. All the children from the various institutions were safely evacuated and assembled in front of the Chinese Pavilion at the Lamaha ‘Safe Space’ and at the Guyana Police Force ground, to be receiv-ed by anxious parents and guardians.
Stabroek News observed several children, mostly of kindergarten age, with reddened eyes, expressing discomfort as a result of the thick smoke from the burning building. They were attended to by adults, police ranks, and firefighters. Several were seen being placed in police pickups. A few adults were also observed to be affected by the smoke.
Firemen were observed running back and forth fixing damaged water hoses, attaching and reattaching them hastily to the water tenders, while bystanders moved up and down the sidewalk, some videoing the scene for the benefit of the social media audience.
As the fire intensified and posed a threat to nearby utility pole, small explosions could be heard in the burning building prompting police, in the interest of safety, to move the onlookers.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn arrived at the scene and after assessing the situation, upbraided senior fire officials about their conduct. “You see my boots, it’s dirtier than yours: you must be dressed just like a fire fighter out here. Don’t come dressed in this fancy uniform; make sure your men have oxygen tanks and that they are directed to put their hoses onto the source of the fire and to have sledges and axes to break into the source of the fire.”
The fire was eventually put out.
A source told this newspaper that the 30 prison officers who were occupying the dormitory, have been relocated to the Camp Street prison quarters for the evening. On Monday they will be permanently relocated to the living quarters at the Lusignan Prison.
One of the officers in an interview with the Ministry of Home Affairs said that the living quarters housed both men and women. Victor Allen stated that some of the prison officers were in the building at the time of the fire. He said not much could be saved and he lost a car which was parked in the compound. He added that a fellow officer lost a large amount of cash which was to be used to pay a contractor as she was building a house.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
