Latest update April 28th, 2026 12:30 AM
GFS to get 7 new fire stations
…as Govt. budgets $6.8B for fire service
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is set to complete and commission seven new fire stations this year with the government allocating $6.8 billion toward strengthening and modernising the service in the 2026 National Budget.
The announcement was made by Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during his budget presentation on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he outlined significant investments aimed at enhancing national firefighting capabilities and reducing emergency response times.
Members of the Guyana Fire Service.
“Mr Speaker, the Government has taken decisive steps to transform the Guyana Fire Service through unprecedented investments in modern capital assets, fundamentally strengthening our national firefighting capabilities to accelerate emergency response times and significantly reduce the human and economic losses associated with fires,” Dr Singh said.
Singh announced that as part of the government’s priority initiatives, $1.1 billion has been allocated to complete and commission additional fire stations at Onderneeming, Campbellville, Ruimveldt, Timehri, Mahaicony, and Tarlorgie, as well as the construction of new fire stations at Rosignol and No. 38 Village, and a Marine Fire Station at Port Georgetown.
These facilities will add to fire stations constructed in 2025 at Charity, Parika, Diamond, Soesdyke, and Wisroc, along with targeted upgrades to existing stations and living quarters.
The 2026 budget also provides for the acquisition of much-needed firefighting equipment. A sum of $1.6 billion has been earmarked for the procurement of additional assets, including two airport firefighting vehicles, four water tenders, and two water bowsers.
“The acquisition of advanced equipment represents a fundamental component in the enhancement of core firefighting capabilities and overall operational effectiveness,” Dr Singh noted.
He further disclosed that in 2025, $527.9 million was expended on the procurement of a crash tender, three ambulances, two water tenders, five all-terrain water tenders, and a breathing apparatus refilling vehicle, among other equipment. An additional $503.1 million was spent last year to advance the procurement of more than 430 fire hydrants, while a further $250 million has been budgeted in 2026 for the purchase of additional hydrants.
To complement these capital investments, $50 million has been allocated in 2026 for basic and advanced firefighting training, aimed at strengthening the skills and readiness of fire service personnel nationwide.
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