Quick response from fire service saves Mash Secretariat

TIMES INT'L

By Kristen Macklingam

Firemen outside the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry’s annexe at Middle Street, Georgetown, moments after putting out the fire
Firemen outside the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry’s annexe at Middle Street, Georgetown, moments after putting out the fire

The quick response of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) on Monday night saved millions of dollars from going up in flames at the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry’s annexe located at Middle Street, Georgetown.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told media operatives at the scene that the fire service received a report from the Guyana Police Force about the fire around 21: 00h. Four units responded to the alarm and rushed to the scene; two from the central fire station, one from Alberttown, and the other from West Ruimveldt.
Gentle explained that when the firemen arrived at the location, the building was wreathed in heavy smoke, especially on the first floor and there were small fires inside. The firefighters managed to enter the building and were able to isolate the fire in a room.
“We discovered where the fire started from, it started from an air conditioning unit. Some damage was done to the room or office where it (the air conditioning unit) was in. It is still dark now, so we have to do some more assessment as to what are the damage and the impact of this fire,” the fire chief said the night of the fire.
He noted that there were minimal damage to the building and some water damage to the ground floor due to the firefighting exercise. Gentle commended the ranks of the fire service for a “robust” response.
Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that had it not been for the timely response of the firemen, it is possible that the wooden building would have been burnt completely.
“I would really like to commend the fire service for an excellent job. I just had a look at it and from the timely intervention by the firemen, they were able to contain the fire to one wall. I am extremely pleased with the work they did and they will be doing investigations to ascertain the cause of this fire,” Dr Anthony noted.
There was no staffer in the building at the time of the fire and it was the ministry’s security guard who noticed the fire and alerted the relevant authorities.

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