Grass fire forces suspension of classes at Canje Secondary School

…as GFS urges citizens to be vigilant, cautious

Classroom sessions at Canje Secondary School were brought to a halt on Tuesday morning following another grass fire in close proximity to the educational institution.
It was the second such fire to affect the school within days.
The fire reportedly started in a field situated adjacent to Canje Secondary School. When this publication arrived at the scene, classes had already been suspended.
Reports are that all of the students were sent home while the teachers were relocated.
Residents told this publication smoke was seen coming from the area at about 10:00h,
Uvita Mangru said her daughter had to lock herself in her room to avoid the smoke since she suffers from asthma.
The Government part-time worker, who also works at the school, said it is very difficult for residents and students to cope with the smoke.
“It is too much. All over in the house is smoke,” she added as the thick smoke got the better of her, forcing an end to her comments.
Her livestock were also affected by the smoke; its impact on them is still to be known.
Meanwhile, 83-year-old Sunmattie Singh sat under her house and could hardly open her eyes.
She said the smoke was burning her eyes.
“You can’t get to go anything because of the smoke,” the pensioner pointed out.
Baba Seda, who also lives at Cumberland Village, claimed that his pets, which include caged birds, have been affected by the smoke emanating from the burning grass.
“Sometimes you have to lock up the house and go away until it ease up. It ease up right now so I come back home.”
The man explained that he would go some distance away and wait for the wind direction to change before returning.
Firefighters were monitoring to grass fire and trying to prevent the spread.
Meanwhile, this is the second fire in the vicinity of Canje Secondary School within a matter of days.
“This one at the school was more terrible… We could stay in here,” Seda noted.
The fire in the school compound last Friday is said to have been caused by someone setting a garbage heap alight.
It reportedly got out of control thus destroying all of the vegetation in its path and also a section of the perimeter fence.

Vigilant and cautious
Meanwhile in an advisory from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) on Tuesday, it was pointed out that during the current dry season, the probability of grass fires is greatly increased.
GFS said it has been receiving a number of reports of these types of fires and called on citizens to be vigilant and cautious.
“Citizens are urged to desist from lighting grass or garbage fires at this time,” the GFS said.
However, the Fire Service said in the event of such a fire occurring it should never be left unattended as it possesses the potential to spread rapidly and become a major fire emergency.
GFS is advising that all fires should be reported as soon as they occur to the Fire Service via the toll-free number, 912.
Persons are being advised to follow a few safety tips in order to control and prevent grass and garbage fires.
These are to desist from openly burning grass and garbage. Find other means of disposal and/or land clearing.
Persons are also advised never to leave a grass or garbage fire unattended. These fires, the GFS said, can quickly get out of control and spread rapidly.
The GFS is also advising that persons report large grass and garbage fires to the fire department immediately.
“Do not throw cigarette or cigar butts on the ground or out of a vehicle. Dispose of them properly and make sure they are completely extinguished,” the advisory said in part while calling on persons to be mindful of parking vehicles on dry grass or shrubs.
Adults are also being advised to educate children about the dangers of playing with fire.
As a safety measure, persons are being advised to keep a shovel, bucket of water, fire extinguisher, or other fire suppression tools on hand. (G4)