As wildfires continue to devastate the backlands of Santa/Aratak Missions, Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Colonel (Retired) Nazrul Hussain related that the Commission was setting up alternative shelters for the residents so that the Timehri Primary School could be reopened on Wednesday.
The ongoing wildfires continue to creep closer to inhabited areas thus forcing residents to evacuate, but more importantly, some are working hand in hand with the firefighters to put out the blazes which continue to spread rapidly.
Of the 38 children, women and senior citizens who were evacuated, some had left the shelter to stay with residents. Presently, 21 persons are staying at the Timehri Primary School where they are receiving essential services, including health care.
In ongoing efforts to prioritise residents’ well-being at the shelter, the CDC has swiftly mobilised the medical division to supply various medications and fuel to the evacuees.
While these 21 individuals are currently safe, reports indicate that other residents are independently fleeing the area, with some seeking assistance from families along the West Bank of Demerara.
An aerial view of the smoke-affected Santa/Aratak Missions (Mike Gonsalves photo)
Officials from the CDC acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the situation and emphasised that while the outcome of the raging fires remains uncertain, the village council during a meeting requested an excavator to dig a trench to channel water towards the flames.
Additionally, the residents are hoping for heavy rainfall to help extinguish the fires, highlighting these two strategies as key to eradicating the blazes.
Meanwhile, residents who remain in the village are calling for more medical assistance in the form of inhalers. “We are now facing lots of difficulties in breathing… some inhalers can help and we are asking stakeholders to assist.
Guyana has experienced over 1300 wildfires since January, and this is a direct result of the El Niño phenomenon, which is responsible for the prolonged dry season.
About 1000 of those fires occurred in communities located in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); whereas the regions with the lowest incidence of wildfires are Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), which both had fewer than 200 fires.
Joint Service 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.
