Over 250 Santa Mission residents allegedly refuse to evacuate

– as wildfire creeps closer to inhabited area

As wildfire creeps closer to inhabited areas in Santa Mission, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), some 250 residents have refused to evacuate the Amerindian settlement.
Thirty-eight women, children and senior citizens evacuated by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are presently housed at the Timehri Primary School. Some residents, Guyana Times understands, chose to stay with family members along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and in Linden.
However, the majority of the population remains at their respective homes, citing fear of losing their livestock and other valuables. Speaking with this publication, a member of the community who is integrally involved in the firefighting efforts and who asked to remain anonymous related that despite the authorities pleading with the residents to evacuate, they refused to do so.
This is worrying as the wildfire is creeping closer to where houses are located.
“When the fire started, it was like 800 feet from the village, but now it is closing in fast, and right now it is about 300 feet from where houses are located…this is quite hazardous because of the thick smoke and despite us telling the residents of the health complications, especially for the young children, they refuse to leave the village,” the source stated.
The source, who is also a member of the Village Council, explained that the fire started two weeks ago and as fast as it is put out, it reignites with the assistance of the heavy breeze.
“We have the firefighters battling with it… between 03:00h and 09:00h, the entire village is consumed in smoke, then it eases a little then at about 13:00h, it starts all over again… this makes it difficult to even traverse in the creek… it is not like roads, where vehicles can use their hazard lights, we have to use flashlights and pray that we stay on course,” the source said.
It was further explained that they would join the firefighters in the evening to put out the fire. “Currently, 10 water pumps are operating to get the water to the affected areas… but the challenge is to get the manpower to fight the wildfires… we can only assist to an extent…”
In some instances, the raging wildfire has reached a critical point thus rendering it impossible for firefighters to access the affected areas to extinguish the blaze.
This is what prompted the Joint Services teams to shift their focus to ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents through swift evacuation measures.

Economic losses
The wildfire has started to severely affect the livelihood of residents. Farming is one of the main economic activities of Santa Mission and the fire has already swept through many acres of farmland. “The palm trees are collapsing and this is one resource that is of great economic benefit to the community…”
If the smoke persists, then it will be even more detrimental to the community as livestock will start to die.
“It will be too much to move as persons in the community also rear meat birds and layers…these are just some economic losses the residents will have to deal with.”
The source, nevertheless, stressed the importance of getting the entire community evacuated. A team of medical personnel was expected to travel into the community Friday or Saturday to attend to the children who remain with their parents.
This was confirmed by Toshao of the village, Hilton Williams, who added that they were monitoring the situation and despite the Joint Services recommending a full evacuation, the villagers were holding out that until it got unbearable, they would remain.
Williams also noted that the fire has tremendously affected their tourism drive while referencing weekends as being the busiest time. He added that they continued to support the Joint Services members by providing the necessities.
Wildfires continue to rage in several communities across Guyana, and several critical agencies have been mobilised to help affected citizens including the Health Ministry, the Joint Services, and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).
Guyana has experienced over 1300 wildfires since January, and these are the direct result of the El Niño phenomenon, which is responsible for the prolonged dry season. One thousand of these fires occurred in communities located in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The regions with the lowest incidence of wildfires are Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), which both had fewer than 200 fires.
Joint Services teams are utilising satellite imagery surveillance to monitor fires countrywide, while land and air techniques are being used to prevent fires from escalating. Resources are stretched thin, but efforts are ongoing to procure advanced firefighting equipment specifically tailored to combat wildfires.
The Guyana Fire Service is urging citizens to avoid deliberately setting fires to either burn garbage or for land clearing, noting that such acts are punishable by law. The Fire Service, in a statement, said it is working to combat several wildfires reported at Coverden and along the Heroes Highway on the East Bank of Demerara; as well as at Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne; Lovely Lass Village, West Coast Berbice; and in Linden.
Any fire or emission of excessive smoke should be reported to the Fire Service via 912.