The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) occupies a central role in national safety, tasked with safeguarding lives, property, and communities from fire, medical emergencies, and other unforeseen crises. So far in 2025 alone, the GFS has reported that it has responded to over 4000 emergency calls, a figure that underscores the immense responsibility placed on its personnel.
Among these interventions, GFS medical teams have already delivered five new-borns, highlighting the critical role the service plays not only in fire suppression but also in providing essential medical support. These numbers reflect not only the dedication and skill of the firefighters and medical responders but also the constant demands placed upon a service that operates on speed, precision, and readiness.
Despite these achievements, the service faces a growing and insidious threat: prank calls to the emergency line, 912. Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham has raised serious concerns about the increase in these false reports, noting that they place undue strain on both resources and personnel. Each unwarranted dispatch consumes manpower, fuel, and equipment that could be deployed to genuine emergencies, potentially putting citizens in danger. Such behaviour demonstrates a reckless disregard for public safety and undermines the very purpose of an emergency service designed to respond to real-life crises.
Firefighting is inherently high-risk. Every fire tender arrives on scene with water, typically 450 gallons per vehicle, and personnel trained to confront unpredictable and often hazardous situations. Teams often need to supplement their supplies from mains, canals, or hydrants, a process that requires both skill and careful coordination. From five fire stations nationwide, the service now operates 22, with six additional stations under construction. Recent investments of $9 billion demonstrate the commitment to ensuring faster response times and improved readiness across both urban and rural areas. However, infrastructure and equipment alone cannot mitigate the risks created by frivolous or malicious calls to emergency services.
Prank calls are far more than a minor annoyance; they are a direct threat to public safety. Each false call can result in delayed responses to genuine emergencies. A house genuinely ablaze, a medical crisis requiring immediate intervention, or a citizen in distress may face grave consequences while resources are misdirected. The ethical and civic implications are clear: misuse of emergency services is a blatant act of irresponsibility. It demonstrates a disregard not only for the lives of those directly affected but also for the professionals who dedicate themselves to protecting the nation. Firefighters place their lives on the line with every call, and misuse of the system magnifies the dangers they face while reducing the effectiveness of their critical work.
Citizens must believe that when they dial 912, trained professionals will arrive promptly, equipped to address the crisis. When prank calls disrupt this trust, the effectiveness of the entire system is compromised. Infrastructure, modern equipment, and expanded coverage are meaningless if the service is diverted from genuine emergencies. Civic responsibility, therefore, is as essential as any investment in stations, vehicles, or technology. Respecting emergency services is a shared obligation; failure to do so carries consequences that can be fatal.
The public must recognise that emergency services function optimally when resources are used responsibly. Prank calls are reckless acts that endanger lives, waste taxpayer money, and diminish the effectiveness of a professional and essential service.
It is imperative that the nation confronts this issue with urgency. Every frivolous call carries real consequences. Citizens must understand that public safety is a shared responsibility and that respect for emergency services is a civic duty. The men and women of the Guyana Fire Service are committed to serving the public, often placing themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety of others. In return, society must safeguard the integrity of the system by refraining from acts of irresponsibility that compromise its effectiveness.
The rise of prank calls and its impact on public safety cannot be taken lightly. Infrastructure, investment, and professionalism can only go so far; the human factor, the respect and accountability of citizens, is equally critical. When emergencies occur, there can be no margin for error. The Guyana Fire Service must be allowed to operate without obstruction, ensuring that when citizens are in genuine need, help arrives immediately. The responsibility rests with all members of society to treat the emergency line with the seriousness it demands, to uphold civic responsibility, and to recognise that reckless behaviour is a danger to everyone.
