-40 rapid intervention vehicles handed over
Forty Rapid Intervention Vehicles (RIVs) from Angloco – a fire-fighting & rescue vehicle manufacturer out of the United Kingdom – were yesterday handed over to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and at least one would be given to each Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
This along with a 10-point approach and strategic plan for the GFS, unveiled by President Irfaan Ali yesterday is expected to catapult Guyana to having one of the best fire response and fighting systems in the region.
“I want to assure all of Guyana that perhaps now we have the most modern firefighting fleet in the entire region. So that is just one component of the equation,” Ali yesterday said during his address at the commissioning of the new fire service headquarters on Homestretch Avenue where the 40 RIVs were also handed over.
In 2023 a fire at Mahdia claimed the lives of 20 children and raised major concerns about the fire-fighting capacity of the GFS and the region.
The building was constructed by US-sanctioned businessman, Nazar Mohamed, who was noticeably absent from yesterday’s commissioning ceremony. It is rare to have large projects commissioned here and the contractors not be a part of those ceremonies. Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, stated that he was unaware of any reason why Mohamed would not come to the ceremony as no one was stopping him and that he had been paid all monies owed for his works.
In a portion of his address, President Ali focused on the vehicles which are equivalent to small fire tenders but with the capacity to travel on terrain like a 4×4 vehicle would. He told the gathering that the newly-acquired vehicles will be distributed across the country to help in rapid response. He has also charged persons with building volunteer firefighting groups or to resuscitate old ones.
“I’ve asked the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Defence, the Commissioner of Police, the Fire Chief, the Director of Prisons, the National Security Adviser, the Director of NISA, and for them to bring along all the commanders in the different divisions… and I’ve asked them to ensure by the end of January, in every single NDC, we have the volunteer firefighting group,” Ali said.
“I hope they remember, because I asked them when we were going through the Christmas season, to ensure that in every NDC, they work with the NDC, to have the volunteer group established, all of whom will be persons under the $40,000 initiative that we have, the part-time employment initiative, and that the training programme be developed to have those persons incorporated into the human asset base of the fire service, and I’m holding them to that responsibility,” he added.
Assistance has been sought from British High Commissioner, Jane Miller, in getting training for persons in the maintenance of the vehicles from the company Angloco, as they are an integral part of the development of this country’s strategic direction for firefighting.
For her part, Miller stated that the UK was proud that the vehicles were procured from a company in her country and that she would assist in seeing that support would be given in using and maintaining them.
Hydrants
Meanwhile, the President informed that works have begun to see the rehabilitation and installation of new fire hydrants all across Georgetown and in new urban centres
“We have done hundreds of those fire hydrants…We have a number of hydrants now functional, new hydrants, but I’ve asked the Minister of Finance to ensure that we have a mapping of all the hydrants that is required in these new large communities, the city, towns and other key areas, and we are committing to finance the establishment of all those hydrants commencing this year. So that’s another major initiative that we are going to have to support firefighting,” he added.
Ali said that when this year’s national budget is read, “part of what we are looking at as the macro project, the large projects are now integrating into community projects, is that you will see heavy emphasis on greater community investment, more community responsibility. So you will see assets that will be procured to deal with community-based problems, neighbourhood-based problems, whether it’s solid waste, whether it’s security.”
He informed that his government has a ten-prong approach and strategic direction to tackling firefighting throughout the country and it taps into a broad range of areas building a system fit for purpose.
“The 10-Point Plan that we are looking at for the Guyana Fire Service, and that we’re implementing.
“This is a red-letter day in the history of the Guyana Fire Service. Because apart from the commissioning of this new headquarters, we are also receiving a new fleet of firefighting vehicles and equipment. This fleet is important in terms of the new direction in which we are guiding the Guyana Fire Service. This new direction must be responsive to the challenges of firefighting in Guyana. We have to, therefore, build a fire service that is fit for purpose,” he said.
Ribbon
“Guyana’s coastline is 459 kilometres long, and running alongside is a ribbon of villages and communities. There are also communities along our main river banks. Given this geography, it is challenging to establish enough fire stations along this expansive coastline and river bank communities. As such, we must move forward towards a more devolved model of fire service, one in which we equip communities with firefighting and fire prevention resources to supplement the efforts of the Guyana Fire Service,” he added.
Ali said that although there has been increases in the number of fire stations by 100 per cent over the last four years, “government is still cognizant of the fact that this too would not lead to the full effectiveness because of the geographic layout of the country, and that is why we have to invest in communities and build the capacity within communities.”
He added, “Timely response is critical. The effective firefighting in the first few minutes of a fire are often decisive in preventing loss of life and minimising damage. Recognising this urgency, we are prioritising the deployment of all the responders within communities that tackle fires immediately upon outbreak.”
This, he said, underscores the importance of acquiring new fire tenders, which will enhance the capacity of local responders to act swiftly and effectively.
“Our vision is to ensure that almost every community in Guyana is organised to respond to fires within their precincts, equipped with essential firefighting tools and supported by accessible fire tenders. Through these efforts, we aim to empower communities to take immediate action upon the outbreak of a fire, while they await the dispatch of tenders from the Guyana Fire Service. What this means is that we must establish a corps of first responders within communities who are trained and mobilised to take immediate action in the event of a fire or other emergencies. These individuals will serve as the first line of defence, bridging the critical gap between the outbreak of an incident and the arrival of professional [fire] fighters,” he said.
“…We’ll be buying modern fire-fighting balls that will be part of the community support system. These are the commercial-scale firefighting balls that you throw on the fire and it can help contain the spread of the fire. So that will be part of the first responders training, so they will be able to turn up on the scene with these modern balls that help and are critical in community firefighting efforts,” he added.
The gathering was also informed that the Guyana Defence Force has acquired helibuckets for its chopper and pilots are trained to fight bush fires and forest fires with the buckets. “We have the buckets to be attached that can go to the rivers, dip the water. They’re also going to conduct training in case we have major fires within the city or in other urban settings. So they’re equipped now, when they’re fully trained, and we have that capacity and capability. I think it’s the first such capacity and capability.”
All this, the President related, forms an integrative framework to improve firefighting, as he proceeded to touch on the 10-point plan for firefighting in Guyana.
The first point is improvement in the legal and regulatory framework for fire prevention and here efforts will be intensified to strengthen fire codes and standards for buildings, ensuring that structures are designed and maintained to reduce the risk of fires.
The second aspect of the plan deals with the institutional framework and is aimed at implementing measures to improve coordination within the Fire Service and with other key agencies.
“Internally, the Fire Service will adopt streamlined protocols to ensure that additional units can be swiftly mobilised to respond to large-scale fires or emergencies requiring greater resources. Externally, collaboration with agencies such as the Police, Guyana Power and Light, and Guyana Water Authority, will be strengthened to provide comprehensive support during fire incidents. These partnerships will be built on technology and ensure among things; efficient traffic management, safe power disconnections, reliable water supply, and other critical services, enabling the Fire Service to perform at its maximum capacity and protect lives and property more effectively,” Ali explained.
The third aspect of the plan points to risk assessment and prevention with a strategy that requires identifying areas of possible high-risk. “The rationale for identifying high-risk areas lies in the need to prioritise resources and tailor strategies to mitigate hazards effectively. Now, I gave you an example of how we use technology to identify high-risk times of the day for accidents and so on, same here.”
The fourth aspect of the plan is public awareness and education, with government reaching to every possible medium to edify citizens on fire prevention and safety practices.
“It is often said that prevention is better than cure, and in the realm of firefighting, fire prevention is unquestionably better than firefighting. This underscores the critical importance of public education on fire prevention and safety. We’re going to have a consultation with all the media houses; both established press and social media, to see how we can collaborate and how we can support them in this public education process that is critical in fire prevention.”
Emergency Response Mechanisms are the fifth aspect of the pillar, while having ample infrastructure and equipment is the sixth. “The sixth pillar of our ten-point plan focusses on better resourcing the Fire Service to enhance its effectiveness and resilience. This includes equipping the service with modern firefighting equipment, such as advanced firefighting vehicles, specialised tools, and state-of-the-art personal protective gear to ensure the safety and efficiency of our firefighters.”
He added, “Additionally, we will leverage cutting-edge technology, including drones for aerial assessments. By investing in these resources, we aim to empower the Fire Service with the tools and technology necessary to address fire incidents swiftly, safely, and effectively, aligning with the demands of a modern and evolving environment. Part of this of course includes training, looking at the welfare of our staff, but also importantly, holding our staff accountable. Technology would be helping us to hold our staff accountable for their actions.”
Disaster preparedness forms the seventh pillar of the plan, as there will be preparation for the GFS to dealing with issues relating to disasters across the country.
Monitoring and Evaluation of the measures and plans form the eighth pillar while the ninth hinges on building human resource capacity which Ali spoke of and which included increasing salaries.
“The ninth pillar of our Plan concerns our human resources. Human resource development is crucial to the long-term success of the Fire Service, and we are committed to strengthening this foundation by recruiting more firefighters and providing them with comprehensive training both locally and internationally. By investing in training programmes, we aim to equip our firefighters with the knowledge and skills required to handle the diverse and complex challenges of firefighting and disaster response.
“Additionally, we recognize the importance of supporting their welfare and well-being, which includes offering improved financial, housing and other benefits to ensure they are adequately cared for. Creating a positive and supportive environment will not only attract more individuals to pursue a career in firefighting, but also retain experienced personnel, building a strong and dedicated team capable of safeguarding our communities effectively.”
The tenth and final pillar acknowledges the growing economy and expanding industrial base of Guyana and thus emphasises the need for the Fire Service to adopt a stronger strategic focus to respond to emerging challenges. “As industries grow and new sectors develop, the complexity and scale of fire risks will evolve, requiring the Fire Service to be adaptable and forward-thinking. Additionally, the impacts of climate change, such as increased incidences of extreme weather conditions and forest fires, will further complicate firefighting efforts. To meet these challenges head-on, the Fire Service must continuously develop its capabilities and ensure that its strategies align with the changing needs of a dynamic and developing nation,” the President said.