Firefighters contain raging grass fire at Bamia

A grass fire of unknown origin broke out on Monday afternoon in Bamia, a small community on the outskirts of Linden, Region 10, prompting action from the Guyana fire service.
According to information, the fire started sometime in the afternoon but was not reported until later that evening. This publication was told that firefighters took almost an hour to contain the blaze since the area was burning for some time.
A fire officer who spoke with this newspaper said that nearby farmers were not affected and no serious health incidents were reported.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS)has repeated its caution to citizens to refrain from burning garbage, dried leaves, or yard waste. The fire service in a social media post said that under El Niño conditions, sudden wind gusts can carry embers into dry grass or nearby buildings instantly. The warning also pointed out that lighting fires that threaten life or property, or burning trash indiscriminately, is illegal and highly dangerous under the laws of Guyana.

In September, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) deployed a helicopter to assist the GFS in containing a savannah fire near Moblissa Ranch along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
While GFS crews began ground firefighting operations, the GDF deployed a helicopter equipped with specialised aerial firefighting equipment to drop water on sections of the fire.
According to the GDF, the aerial water drops reduced the intensity of the fire, allowing ground crews to continue their efforts.
Meanwhile, in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), grass fires have surged by a staggering 469 per cent during the first nine months of 2026, with the GFS warning that unattended burning, particularly on agricultural lands and open fields, continues to pose a serious threat to communities, buildings and motorists.
Statistics provided by the GFS revealed that 256 grass fires were recorded between January and September this year, compared with just 45 during the corresponding period in 2025, an increase of 211 incidents.
Overall fire calls almost doubled, climbing from 264 during the first nine months of 2025 to 532 for the corresponding period this year, representing an increase of 102 per cent.