Swift response by GFS averts major devastation at NIS, GPOC
Two major catastrophes were on Monday averted after quick action from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) resulted in the prompt extinguishing of fires at the National Insurance Scheme’s Brickdam, Georgetown office and the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) headquarters on Robb Street, Georgetown.
Firefighters responded just minutes after the fires were reported at both locations.
At the NIS Brickdam office, employees told Guyana Times that they smelt smoke, and shortly after, they saw smoke coming from an electrical point, forcing them to evacuate the building.
On the scene, Divisional Fire Officer Haimchandra Persaud said as the firemen arrived on the scene, a small fire had already been ignited.
“In the head office, the manager’s office, there was a point there, it appears to be something overloaded. Power was cut, and also persons in the building were evacuated,” he said.
According to the Fire Officer, all the conductors in the building seemed to be aged and would need to be replaced to prevent a reoccurrence of the incident.
“From the time we would’ve received the call, we had two units from Central Fire Station, one unit from Alberttown Fire Station that would’ve initially responded…,” he added.
An electrical engineer was contacted and was asked to do a complete check of the building’s electrical system.
“As recommended, we talked about the points to be replaced, all the conductors appear to be aged, so we also indicated to them that things need to be changed to prevent a reoccurrence of this situation,” Persaud said.
Shortly after the incident, firefighters were ordered to remain on scene until the check was completed and power was restored.
NIS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Holly Greaves praised the timely response of the Fire Service. NIS employees were sent home and were asked to return to work today.
Meanwhile, Persaud also confirmed that a fire was reported at the GPOC, but he could not provide detailed information at the time. Nevertheless, he assured that the fire was extinguished and no one was injured.
“Those fires were extinguished by the Campbellville Unit at GPO,” he affirmed.
Only on Sunday, President Dr Irfaan Ali lambasted the Fire Service over what he described as their “lackadaisical approach” to the fire that ravaged 80 per cent of the Brickdam Police Station on Saturday.
The Head of State had criticised the organisation’s lack of preparedness for an emergency situation and called on the public servants to get their acts together.