Fire service joins wildfire management effort in South Rupununi

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has partnered with Indigenous communities and conservation organisations in Region Nine, (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) to support fire management activities aimed at reducing the spread of wildfires and protecting natural habitats in the South Rupununi.

The six-day initiative, held from October 12 to 17, involved representatives from the villages of Sawariwau, Katoonarib and Shulinab, the Amerindian Research Unit of the University of Guyana and the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS).
According to the GFS, the Service provided technical and operational support during the exercise, particularly by helping teams access water from open water sources for fire management activities.
Station Officer Clayton Pantlitz, said firefighters assisted in controlling fires that threatened to spread outside their intended boundaries. They also responded to areas where previously extinguished fires showed signs of reigniting.
The initiative focused on fire management in the South Rupununi, an area that supports diverse ecosystems and Indigenous communities whose livelihoods are closely linked to the natural environment.
The region is also home to the Rio Branco Antbird and the Hoary-throated Spinetail, two bird species threatened by uncontrolled wildfires.
The GFS noted that the establishment of firebreaks is essential to help protect and restore the birds’ natural habitats by limiting the spread of fires.
The exercise also coincided with the Service’s observance of Fire Prevention Month 2026, which promotes fire safety and preparedness across Guyana.
The GFS said its participation highlighted the importance of coordinated planning, technical expertise and community engagement in preventing fires and reducing disaster risks, noting that effective fire prevention extends beyond extinguishing flames.