A major fire erupted at the Fireside Suites hotel on Garnett Street, Georgetown on Saturday afternoon, casting thick black plumes of smoke over Georgetown. The blaze, which began around 14:50h, engulfed the rooftop power room of the three-story building and threatened the densely built neighborhood until the swift intervention of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) brought it under control.
The fire started in the power room located on the roof, which housed the building’s air conditioning units and generators, adding complexity to the firefighting efforts. According to Fire Chief Gregory Wickham, emergency crews were alerted at 14:53h and arrived on the scene within three minutes. Their rapid response was important in containing the flames and preventing further destruction.
“The roof of the building was already ablaze when our first team arrived,” Wickham recounted. “Two more fire trucks quickly followed, enabling us to contain the fire before it spread to neighboring structures.”
Fire Chief Gregory Wickham
He credited the use of the Bronto Skylift—a specialised aerial firefighting platform—with allowing firefighters to approach the flames from above. This maneuver was essential in preventing the fire from reaching nearby wooden buildings, which could have resulted in widespread damage.
Residents and nearby tenants quickly reacted as smoke filled the air. Zimbabwean national Wazanae Michinere Ipikanongoere, who lives in an adjacent building, described his initial response. “I was watching videos when my neighbour, Gerardo from Cuba, alerted me,” he said. “We ran outside and saw the smoke. We were ready to use buckets if it came to that, but within minutes the fire brigade arrived and got to work.”
Ipikanongoere expressed gratitude for the firefighters’ rapid response. “They set up fast, and thankfully, the breeze was blowing away from us. If it had been blowing in our direction, it could have been much more dangerous with all these wooden buildings nearby.”
The swift containment was crucial, as any delay could have led to a larger disaster. Fire Chief Wickham underscored the importance of rapid communication in emergencies. “I want to thank the person who raised the alarm. Every second counts in these situations. Because of that call, we managed to respond in time to keep the fire from spreading beyond the initial building.”
Once the flames were subdued, firefighters remained on-site to ensure all residual pockets of heat were extinguished to prevent any chance of reignition. Wickham noted that further investigation would be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire. (G9)
A major fire erupted at the Fireside Suites hotel on Garnett Street, Georgetown on Saturday afternoon, casting thick black plumes of smoke over Georgetown. The blaze, which began around 14:50h, engulfed the rooftop power room of the three-story building and threatened the densely built neighborhood until the swift intervention of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) brought it under control.
