Latest update January 7th, 2025 2:29 AM
Firefighters attacked with bricks, sticks and cutlasses at Linden fire scene
Kaieteur News – Residents of Andyville Housing Scheme, Linden, Region 10 on Saturday attacked firefighters with bricks, sticks and cutlasses while they were responding to a fire in area.
While the motive behind the attack is unclear, Kaieteur News understands that the residents were angry because the firefighters took a while to respond to the scene of the fire.
This newspaper learnt that at least one firefighter sustained a “buss head” while another was slapped to his head.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has released a statement condemning the assault on its fire fighters and have reported the matter to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
“Such actions are strongly condemned,” the GFS said, while adding “Our personnel should not be targeted when working to control flames and prevent further destruction.”
According to the GFS, on Saturday the fire service received an alert that there was fire at Andyville Housing Scheme around 11:49 hrs.
Firefighters at the scene ensuring that the fire was fully extinguished at Linden
“Firefighters from the Linden Fire Station, along with Water Tender #99 and Water Carrier #12, responded, with the first unit arriving on the scene at 12:37 hrs,” GFS said.
Sources on ground, however, said that fire station at Linden responded within eight minutes after learning about the fire but when the firefighters arrived angry residents were waiting on them, armed with bricks, sticks and cutlasses.
As the firefighters attempted to tackle the blaze, the residents assaulted and prevented them from carrying out their work.
Police were on the ground but were unable to control the irate residents. Law enforcement authorities eventually quelled the violent scene and the firefighters were able to contain the fire and extinguish the fire.
The inferno destroyed the one-flat wooden and concrete home of 50-year-old Colin Bruce and 40-year-old Sonita Peters, leaving them homeless.
While the firemen investigated the cause of the fire, they reminded the residents that they are not to be blamed for arriving late to the scene.
The GFS stated, “We emphasise that blame for negligence or fire consequences should not be placed on our ranks, who are dedicated to their mission.”
Kaieteur News learnt that the victims and the residents took a while to alert the fire service about the blaze.
Sources alleged that when the fire started, it was small and the residents attempted to extinguish it by themselves. When the blaze grew out of control and started to spread, they decided to alert the fire service but could not source a number for the Linden Fire Station.
By the time word reportedly reached firefighters, there was not much that the firemen could have been done to save the house. Kaieteur News was told too, that location of the fire was a fair distance away from the fire station and it took the first unit some eight minutes to arrive at the scene.
Authorities are reminding residents that when there is an emergency involving a fire,they must call the fire service immediately.
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