Traffic congestion continues to be biggest obstacle to fire response – GFS

– clarifies firefighters receive constant training during station downtime

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) reiterated that one of the major challenges faced by firefighters is traffic congestion, which can hamper them getting to the fire scene in a timely manner.
This was echoed by senior fire officer Rovin Thomas on Friday during a simulation exercise to showcase its preparedness to respond to fires.
“I would say the number one challenge we face is the congestion on the road. As much as we have sirens and persons will see these large trucks coming through with their sirens, some may still be of the opinion that, ‘Oh, they’re just putting on the siren because they want to get where they’re going fast.’ Traffic congestion, rush hour, peak periods – those are major challenges for us, especially on the East Bank and some parts of Georgetown. Those are our major challenges.”
However, he noted that improvements to firefighting infrastructure, including the installation of additional hydrants, have strengthened the fire service’s ability to respond to emergencies.

In addition, one of the myths addressed during the exercise was the perception that firefighters are inactive while stationed at their respective fire stations.
“So while some persons may be of the opinion that we’re in station and we’re not doing anything, firefighters are undergoing training. These exercises are not just pre-emptive exercises for today’s purpose only, but these are exercises that normally occur on a regular basis in the fire service,” Senior Fire Officer Rovin Thomas explained.
Thomas said the GFS currently has access to more than 1,000 hydrants in Georgetown while also utilising alternative water sources such as canals and firefighting bowsers when necessary.
“Through Governmental intervention, we are fortunate enough to have hydrants being installed in and around Georgetown – many hydrants. Water is not a big issue for the fire service, and even if there’s a clogged drain and there’s not a hydrant in a particular area, we have our bowsers that normally respond to these calls. We have two appliances and, in some instances, two bowsers to support those appliances.”
He explained that bowsers, which are fire trucks equipped with large water tanks, can carry significant quantities of water during emergency responses, debunking another myth that fire tenders arrive at the fire scene without water. He mentioned that this is completely false and should not be regarded as true.
He stated that firefighters, upon reaching the scene, aim to find the closest source of water first.
“For those who don’t know, bowsers are the fire trucks that have the long carriage or the long tanker. Those bowsers carry 14,000 litres of water.”
To top it off, Thomas added that regular fire appliances carry between 450 and 500 gallons of water, with additional foam capacity used specifically for certain types of fires.
He maintained that the fire service is equipped and prepared to respond to different types of emergencies. Thomas also explained that the response process begins at the Fire Service’s control room, where emergency calls are received and dispatched to firefighters.
He said Georgetown currently has a three-minute response time, measured from the receipt of the call to the arrival of the appliance and the release of more than 50 per cent of its extinguishing medium.
Thomas said such exercises are necessary to test the Fire Service’s readiness and correct misconceptions about firefighters’ operations.
“Such an exercise is important because it tests our response capability. It is necessary to have these exercises because oftentimes persons are under the perception that firemen just come to work, lie down, and sleep all day, and then they just go to fires and normally turn up late and do all these things. But let me clear up the myth. We can only respond to a call provided that a call has been made. We cannot respond if we’re not aware. So once that call comes through to the fire service, we respond.”
“We have an in-house policy here: when in doubt, turn out. So even though we might think it’s a hoax call, our appliances will always turn out. Training is necessary.”
Thomas reiterated the importance of installing sprinkler systems in multi-storey buildings, noting that the GFS recommends that all buildings three stories and higher be equipped with fire suppression systems.
According to him, the Fire Service’s mandate is to ensure buildings are safe while protecting lives and property from destruction caused by fires. As such, the agency has established safety protocols and recommendations for building construction.
“Buildings that are three floors and up must be fitted with a sprinkler system. Those are our recommendations. So, if you want to construct a building that is three floors and up and you submit your plans to the Fire Service, one of the key recommendations is that you must have a sprinkler system. Perhaps, subsequently, we will expand those recommendations, but sprinkler systems are very expensive, and the average person with a single-storey building might not be able to afford one. However, fireballs, fire extinguishers, and smoke alarm systems are recommended for smaller-scale buildings.”