Fire Service expanding hydrant network

The Guyana Fire Service is expanding its fire hydrant network with a strategic focus on vulnerable areas (VPs) and key points (KPs) across the country to strengthen emergency response capabilities. Operational Officer Rovin Thomas said more than 35 new hydrants are currently being installed, with the project extending beyond Georgetown to communities along the East Bank, East Coast, West Bank and West Coast. “We can say we have over 1,000 hydrants functioning in and around Georgetown,” Thomas told the media on the sidelines of an event on Friday. According to Thomas, the Fire Service recently installed 32 hydrants in the Mahaicony and Mahaica areas, while work continues to increase hydrant coverage in other communities. Thomas said the agency’s focus is not only on installing new hydrants but also on maintaining those already in service. “The hydrants that are already planted, those hydrants are constantly serviced and ensure that they are operable and in good conditions,” he said. According to Thomas, the Fire Service is prioritising the installation and maintenance of hydrants at vulnerable locations and key points, including bulk fuel storage facilities, large supermarkets, government buildings, schools, gas stations and shopping malls. “There is a specific emphasis on government buildings, and those high-rise, high-risk areas,” Thomas said. The initiative, he explained is intended to ensure firefighters have reliable access to water in areas where fires could pose the greatest risk to life and property.