Child-triggered fires spark urgent warning from Fire Service
Aftermath of fires which occurred as a result of children allegedly playing with matches
In the wake of recent fire incidents attributed to children playing with lighters and matches, the Guyana Fire Service issued a stern call to parents and guardians, urging heightened vigilance and preventive measures to safeguard homes.
On Wednesday, firefighters raced to Lot 10 Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, where a single-storey concrete and wooden structure was engulfed in flames, believed to have originated from children playing with a lighter. The destructive blaze rapidly consumed the building.
A similar incident occurred on November 29, 2023, at Lot 19 Public Road Agricola, East Bank Demerara. Firefighters responded to a two-storey wooden and concrete structure engulfed in flames, again traced back to a child playing with a lighter on a mattress. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the structural integrity of the property was significantly compromised.
The Guyana Fire Service, alarmed by these incidents, is calling on parents and guardians to impart crucial lessons to their children about the dangers of playing with lighters and matches. The plea extends to securing such items out of children’s reach, emphasising the potential consequences of neglect.
“Fire safety is everyone’s business,” declared the Guyana Fire Service, urging collective efforts to protect homes and communities from avoidable disasters.
As the holiday season approaches, the call for heightened awareness becomes even more critical, with the Guyana Fire Service emphasising the need for a united front in ensuring the safety of every household. (G9)
