A more disciplined approach to fire safety needed

A more disciplined approach to fire safety needed — Fire Chief

Oct 22, 2009 News

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle says that if people stop stealing electricity, running drop cords to their neighbours and leaving children unattended there would be fewer occurrences of fires in Guyana.
Deferring questions of what could have caused the recent fires on Regent Street he advised that one should await the outcome of ongoing investigations.
However, addressing domestic fires that “occur almost daily” he said persons need to stop taking chances and employ a more disciplined approach to safety.
While many are focussed on the most recent fires on Regent Street, Gentle said most fires occur in domestic/ dwelling locations on an almost daily basis and there is always an element of carelessness.
In issuing a warning to all of Guyana as the festive season approaches, he said that parents and guardians need to stop leaving children unattended. People need to stop stealing electricity and tampering with electrical connections.
They also need to understand and apply fire safety measures in their environment at all times.
Further, he advised that all should take the necessary precaution especially during the festive season to ensure fewer fire incidences.
He noted, too, that the majority of fires are caused, by a human element.
Businesses have too much security reinforcement
From a fire service perspective Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said that while businesses are looking after their security, the grill work and other security features often make it difficult for fire fighters to gain access to buildings in a timely manner.
“In the commercial sector there is need for a balance between security, safety and access from a businessman’s perspective because fire fighters often lose time getting through these barriers.”
This was one of the issues of the most recent fire on Regent Street.
Addressing the issue of arson and fires generally, Fire Chief Gentle said that once it is established that a fire was as a result of arson the investigation is turned over to the Police Criminal Investigations department.
This, he said, was the case several years ago when it was concluded that the fire that destroyed the Kissoon furniture store building at the corners of Camp and Robb Streets and the other buildings on Regent Street was a work of arson.
He could not conclude just yet, if the three separate fires that razed buildings belonging to the Hamid family as well as other businesses was the work of arsonists but he did not rule out the possibility that it was.
Gentle, however, said that the fire that razed the Ministry of Health on Brickdam several months ago was a clear case of arson “so it’s now up to the police to do their work.”
Party walls help and a hindrance
One senior fire official said that the closeness of business houses can thwart fire fighters’ efforts to prevent flames spreading from one building to another. Georgetown Deputy Mayor Robert Williams had told Kaieteur News that there is no law against the construction of party walls once agreed to by property owners in commercial Georgetown.
In light of the prior Regent Street fire, Deputy Mayor Robert Williams has said that there is likely to be some consultation on the way forward with a view to changing this.
“From a fire service stand point, separations work to prevent fire spread but the walls have to be properly constructed and we would like to see anything that would prevent a fire spread as long as it is lawful,” the fire Chief said.
He recommends that City Hall needs to urgently consider and plan to make allowance for even more separation of space especially in commercial areas, as there is evidence that there is need for more space.

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A more disciplined approach to fire safety needed — Fire Chief

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