Enhanced fire prevention, safety measures being explored amid Puruni Landing fire

– affected residents receive hampers, cash grant as support efforts kick in

Days after the devastating at Puruni Landing, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) which destroyed 15 buildings and millions in losses, Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn has engaged with affected residents to assess the situation and explore potential solutions for enhancing fire prevention and safety measures in the future.

During the engagement, Benn emphasizes the importance of fire prevention and urges residents and the business community to adopt proactive safety practices.
Businesses and households were encouraged to equip their premises with essential fire prevention tools, including fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and buckets of sand, to reduce risks and improve preparedness.
However, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to monitor the situation closely and more, explore means to provide ongoing support to the affected community.
On this note, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has donated 45 food hampers to support affected families. Additionally, HIAS, in collaboration with the Bureau of Refugee and Migrants and the Red Cross, is providing hampers, essential household items, and a one-time cash grant of G$72,800 to assist families with immediate needs.
A total of 50 households will benefit from this assistance.
Following the devastation on Wednesday last, the GFS stated that that fire might have been started by a malfunctioning fuel pump. This fire reportedly erupted in the Miners Choice area of Puruni Landing at about 10:30h on Wednesday, and several structures were destroyed, including a fuel station, guest houses and storage facilities, before it was extinguished.
The GFS has said this fire originated at a fuel station owned by Glaston Fiffee and his wife Alanna Fiffee, and early reports suggest that a faulty fuel pump may have caused the fire.
The Fire Service has said reports revealed that workers at the station were selling gasoline when the pump malfunctioned and burst into flames. Nearby combustible materials were ignited, and thus the building was ultimately destroyed.
“In addition to the fuel station, several other properties were affected, including three guest houses, three storage bonds, three living quarters, two restaurants, one ice house, one boutique, one dwelling house, one generator room, and one variety store,” the GFS has said.
Several pieces of equipment, vehicles and boats were also damaged, including three outboard engines, three dredge pumps, four generators, one all-terrain vehicle (ATV), three XR motorcycles, five boats equipped with outboard engines, four motor lorries, and one pickup truck. At the time of the fire, 28 persons were occupying the living quarters and guest houses.
Residents of the community had bravely stepped in to help battle the fire using mining equipment such as water pumps. Their quick response, along with that of the Bartica Fire Station, was instrumental in bringing the blaze under control, thus preventing further destruction.
A comprehensive investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.