Major catastrophe avoided as GFS contains fire at GNSC Wharf

Major catastrophe was avoided on Sunday morning when a fire of unknown origin started at the Guyana National Shipping Company (GNSC) Wharf, Lombard Street, Georgetown.
Reports are that the fire started at about 08:12h at a workshop at the wharf ’s aged-wooden building referred to as the “gear room”.
The Guyana Fire Service said that as a result of the fire, a workshop and gear room were destroyed.
“Three jets working from Water Tender 107 using relay from Fire Boat ‘Protector 8’, one jet from WT106 and one jet from WT76 using relay from WT112 all working from an open water source were used to extinguish the blaze,” the Fire Service said in a statement, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
After the fire was extinguished, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn underscored the need for businesses and building owners to adhere to necessary fire safety and prevention practices.
According to Benn, the building was being cleared out on Sunday.
He told reporters at the scene that the fire was contained and restricted to just that building.
However, with this being the second fire at a major wharf facility in the city, the Home Affairs Minister expressed concerns about the lack of fire safety measures at most business premises, something which he highlighted is required by law.
“What is of concern is that the message doesn’t seem to be getting through to businesses and other places… Perhaps I’d have to work harder at getting the message across because [this is] in spite the fact that we’ve had serious fires of recent,” he asserted.
Benn further underscored, “the need for us to pay more attention to issues relating to fire safety to protect private properties and also public buildings.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the GNSC Board of Directors, Euclin Gomes related his relief that the fire was detected in the shortest possible time and was also contained.
“We can thank the stars that we have suffered minimal loss in terms assets… things could’ve been worse,” he stated.
Gomes added that the shipping company had started the process of undertaking activities relating to fire prevention and readiness following the recent fire at another nearby wharf facility over a week ago.
Meanwhile, acting Fire Chief Gregory Wickham told reporters that investigations are ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire.
The fire Gomes referred to erupted just before midnight on January 16 and destroyed a two-storey wooden, concrete and steel bond which was used by Tropical Shipping Company and Laparkan Trading Company.
In a statement on the matter, the GFS said Tropical Shipping Company sustained water damage and minor fire damage. Additionally, propane cylinders, a quantity of barrels containing food stuff, clothing, household appliances and other items were destroyed.
On the other hand, the GFS noted that Laparkan Trading suffered the loss of one Bobcat machine, a quantity of office furniture, gas cylinders, crates of energy drinks, three 40 feet containers containing electrical cables and flex hoses, three electrical transformers and three 40 feet refrigeration containers. In addition, eleven vehicles were also destroyed while five were severely damaged and three others were slightly damaged.
Laparkan Company Manager Bodhan Nipan had recently noted that the company is doing its best to make sure that business flow is not impeded and also to address affected customers.