Fire Equipment Below Efficiency

THERE ARE fourteen operational fire-fighting vehicles in Guyana, according to Chief Fire Officer Mr. Lealand Loncke.

Mr. Loncke said that among the fourteen, four are water tenders, six are Land Rovers (pumping units) three are foam tenders and the other is a water carrier.

In Georgetown, there are eight vehicles, but only five are operational. He graded their efficiency at between 85 to 40 per cent and explained that this is so because of their varying age. The vehicles were in operation between 1976 and 1985, he added.

Mr. Loncke said that at the Stabroek Fire Service Headquarters, there are two water tenders. At the West Ruimveldt station there is one water tender while at Campbellville there is a water carrier and at Ogle there is a pumping unit.

“The fire hoses are good and also there is much in stock,” Mr. Loncke declared. Despite their plentiful supply however, some vehicles carry only 4 hoses, he admitted. He said at a fire persons may see perforated hoses but this is because they are damaged right on the scene of the fire.

However, there is a shortage of firemen’s kits and ladders, Mr. Loncke admitted.

Mr. Loncke went on to say that during last year, the Fire Service responded to 1 280 calls. Among those, 138 were house calls; out of which 57 houses were destroyed. Vehicle calls numbered 41 and of these 13 were destroyed. The remainder of calls resulted from electrical problems.

On the question of low water pressure, Mr. Loncke said that as far as he could see moves are being made to remedy the situation.

He explained that using water from trenches cannot directly damage the firefighting equipment as it is flushed out as soon as the engines return to their base. On the other hand, the equipment stands the risk of rusting if salt water is used.

Mr. Loncke said that the Guyana Defence Force had assisted the Fire Service in extinguishing fires in the past and will continue to do so in future if they are in the area.

Other sources at the Fire Department said that the periodic fuel shortage does not affect the service as the Department always has reserve stocks to rely on when there is a shortage.

However, the source expressed fear of government’s encouraging the use of coal pots. This, the source said, not only damages roofs and wall, but is a serious fire hazard. “Our houses are not designed for using coalpots for cooking,” the source explained.

In view of the state of the Fire Department, the use of coal pots should be discontinued immediately, the source suggested.

Lawrence Jaskaran