GFS records 807 grass/rubbish & 510 building fires for 2023 – Min Benn

At Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn disclosed alarming statistics regarding fire incidents in 2023 while shedding light on the challenges faced by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).
He noted that 807 grass/rubbish and 510 building fires were recorded thus far for 2023.

Defending a request for $24 million in supplementary funding for fuel and lubricants for the Fire Service, Benn emphasised the pressing need for additional resources due to a surge in fires, exacerbated by the prevailing El Nino conditions.
“There has been a large requirement for fire responses, as we have El Niño upon us…”
He added that the increased ambulance calls – 6140 – further heightened the demand for fuel to sustain emergency services.
Benn, responding to inquiries from Shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta Chandon-Edmond about the reasons for additional funds, highlighted the unfortunate rise in maliciously set fires and the challenges posed by fake emergency calls.
Despite these hurdles, he justified the $24 million request as essential to ensuring the GFS’s continued effectiveness.
“There have been several malicious settings of fires… the Fire Service also has the ambulance service attached to it…we had increased calls and several fake calls… the sum is just $24 million,” Benn explained.
Discussing recent acquisitions, Minister Benn revealed strategic investments, including two excavators, a new firefighting unit at the airport, a specialised ladder for rescue operations, and various smaller vehicles. These additions aim to enhance the GFS’s capabilities and response efficiency.
In the 2023 budget, the GFS was allocated $545 million to advance critical facility works, with an additional $489 million earmarked for procuring firefighting equipment. This included water bowsers, tenders, and the installation of 148 fire hydrants, reinforcing the commitment to bolstering the firefighting infrastructure.
A separate allocation of $20 million was designated for the comprehensive training of fire officers.
As the Guyana Fire Service takes proactive measures to address the evolving challenges of fire incidents, these strategic investments underscore the Government’s commitment to the safety and well-being of the nation.