-but says helped to prevent catastrophic spread
While acknowledging some deficiencies connected to the fighting of the Bush Lot blaze that resulted in the death of a man and the destruction of three buildings, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) yesterday defended its response time and said it was able to prevent a catastrophic spread.
Scathing criticism, as reported in Stabroek News, has come from those dispossessed by the fire on Monday. The shortcomings cited have been typical of those that have been levelled at the GFS.
On Wednesday, Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham condemned any act of delinquency or unprofessional behaviour by ranks of the GFS.
In a statement, he said: “It has been brought to the Service’s attention that ranks acted in an unprofessional manner during a major firefighting operation at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice on Monday.
“An investigation into the matter has been launched, and once completed, defaulters will be sanctioned accordingly”.
Yesterday, the GFS addressed some of the criticisms raised by the residents of Bush Lot.
It noted the concerns and frustrations expressed by the business owners and residents of Bush Lot and offered condolences to the family of Carl Rajendra Persaud who died and to all those affected.
“We are aware of the criticisms regarding the equipment and response time during the incident. The complaints about hoses with perforations and delays in accessing an open water source are taken seriously. These issues somewhat hindered our ability to effectively contain the blaze and protect the businesses and properties impacted”, the GFS acknowledged.
While there are two fire hydrants in the area, it said that only one was accessible due to earth blockage of the underground valves.
“It is the duty of the Guyana Fire Service to inspect and ensure the operability of fire hydrants, and we accept full responsibility for the inaccessible hydrant. However, it is important to note that there was a power outage in the area at the time of the fire, which resulted in insufficient water pressure, further affecting the water supply and overall operation”, the GFS said.
It refuted the claims of late arrival at the site of the fire.
“We refute the claims that fire tenders arrived late at the scene. The report was received at 18:03 hrs, and the first tender (WT#90 from Onverwagt) arrived at 18:10 hrs. The second tender (WT#74 from New Amsterdam) arrived at 19:01 hrs, and the third tender (WT#106 from Mahaica) arrived at 19:21 hrs. Additionally, we affirm that all three responding tenders had water in their tanks”, the GFS said.
Due to the magnitude of the fire, upon arrival, it said that firefighters opted to access a nearby open water source to facilitate continuous firefighting. A relay system was set up between the tenders utilizing light pumps, which accessed water from a nearby trench, the GFS said. Three water tenders and an ambulance, along with sixteen firefighters and three Emergency Medical Technicians, were engaged in the firefighting operation and response.
“Despite the arduous nature of the task, our team successfully managed to contain and extinguish the blaze, limiting the destruction to three buildings and preventing a potentially catastrophic spread”, the GFS asserted.
One civilian and one fire personnel were transported to the Fort Welling-ton Regional Hospital by the GFS’ Emergency Medical Technicians for treatment of fainting and lower back pain, respectively.
“The GFS reviews each incident by way of an After-Action Reports so as to continuously improve our service. We are currently conducting a thorough review of our engagement, equipment, and operational protocols to ensure such issues do not reoccur. This includes continuous repair of damaged hoses, procurement of new hoses and other critical firefighting equipment, as well as enhanced training for our personnel.
“We understand and regret the significant impact this fire has had on the Bush Lot community. We renew our call for citizens to equip their homes and businesses with smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire balls and to consider fire insurance”, the fire service said.
The persons who lost their various businesses on Tuesday expressed major frustration at the GFS. According to them, the unit arrived at the location with hoses which had major holes and then struggled for a while to locate a water source.
Sprinkler
Describing the fire service’s hose as a “sprinkler” for farms, Ramesh Khemraj, owner of a jewellery and bicycle shop that was destroyed explained to Stabroek News that when he arrived at the location his premises was not on fire.
He said Carl Persaud’s house which housed the insurance office at the bottom was ablaze and the wind was blowing on the other side. As such he began emptying the building next door where the phone and clothing store was located with a resident on the upper flat.
“We rush over there and start help she (Jagmohan) take out she thing them out she house so when we come back now this wire fall on the shed and start spark on me business so me couldn’t get in the building and me say if me get in and get trap it go be more worse so I stand up out deh and the fire truck went there so me say it go help save the one side wall from catching fire”, Khemraj said.
However, this was not the case, Khemraj explained, “when them spray the water is like from here to there and right through the road from the trench to reach here the hose like sprinkler.”
Khemraj added, that Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn was present at the location on Monday evening “and he see it for himself is na we saying it alone.”
Unable to estimate his losses, Khemraj said that he had about 300 bicycles at the location along with his jewellery shop. Breaking into tears, the businessman said “if you see things I get to make for people. Now I got to ask them for some time till I figure out what me doing.”
Additionally, he explained that he was renting two units at the location, one of which was occupied by his daughter who operated a beauty salon and cosmetic centre. “Everything gone, the jewellery shop, the bicycles all the frame left at the bank that burn, and me daughter entire salon where she been a do hair and nails.”
