PAT DIALMost Guyanese, today, are not aware of the importance of the Fire Service to the protection of the lives, property and comfort of citizens. The Fire Service is taken for granted unlike in the last century when citizens were very aware of its importanceIn those times, there was an aura of romance about the “Fire Brigade” as it was then known. Children at school aspired to be firemen and a good proportion of the Professional and Business classes joined the Auxiliary Fire Brigade since being a member was something of a status symbol.Though the work and activities of the Fire Brigade, now known as “The Guyana Fire Service,” have expanded manifold, people are now even less cognizant of its importance. The only time when one seems to know of the Fire Service is when one is in trouble.In this week’s Consumer Concerns, we thought of focusing on the Guyana Fire Service so that Consumers and the public at large could once again begin to be conscious of this important segment of Guyanese life.We therefore spoke with Mr. McGregor, the acting Fire Chief,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, since Mr. Marlon Gentle, the substantive Fire Chief was on leave. Mr. McGregor handed us over to Mr. Compton Sparman, the longest serving officer of the Fire Service, and as expected, he was a mine of information and anecdotes.In earlier colonial times, the Fire Brigade was centered in Georgetown. The Georgetown Service had the responsibility countrywide in spite of the fact that each sugar plantation had a fire extinguishing unit of its own. Today, the Service has a true presence in every part of the country:In Georgetown there are four stations – Stabroek which is headquarters, Alberttown,cheap nfl jerseys, Campbellville and West Ruimveldt. On East Bank Demerara,Cheap NFL Jerseys, there is a station at Diamond and one at Timehri. The Timehri station specializes in dealing with aircraft fires, aircraft running off the runways, and other possible aeroplane accidents as well as the usual fire-fighting duties.On West Coast Demerara, there is the Leonora Station. In Berbice, there are four stations – Onverwagt, New Amsterdam and two in Corriverton. There are also stations at Linden, Bartica and Anna Regina. There are five Auxiliary Stations at Lethem, Kwakwani, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Mazaruni.The Fire Service deals with fires of all types as for example, grass fires, house fires,NFL Jerseys Outlet, electrical fires, aircraft and fuel fires. Each type of fire requires its own technique of extinguishing – some types of fire require the use of water, others may require the use of foam or dry powder. Sometimes, it is necessary to employ the use of explosives.In addition to its core activity of extinguishing fires, the Fire Service offers a plethora of services and help to the public. We will mention some of these so that the public may have a better understanding of the important role of the Fire Service to the life of the community and at the same time, inform them of the many services open to all.Rescuing victims of various kinds of accidents is one of the daily activities of the Fire Service. For example,wholesale jerseys, collapsing old houses,Cheap Jerseys, in traffic accidents or in construction work, the Fire Service is the only entity which possesses the necessary tools such as various types of appropriate saws, jacks, hammers and other tools and is able to apply these immediately. At the same time, the Fire Service is always ready to offer first aid to victims.There are other types of rescue. Sometimes someone may be marooned on a tall tree and can’t come down, or a construction worker on a very high scaffold may have an attack of vertigo and has to be brought down to save his life or a would-be suicide from a house roof.Animals are also rescued as for example someone’s valuable pet cat climbing a high tree and can’t come down or horses falling into canals and have to be lifted out.During periods of drought or water shortage, the Service has kept institutions such as schools, Help and Shelter, the Palms and even private residences supplied with water.The Service often has to hose out tarmacs in preparation for public and even private functions. It would adjust flags and flag poles for embassies, government departments and even private residences. It would blow out drains in various parts of the City thus facilitating easier drainage.At a fee, it would supply visiting ships with water, salvage sunken ships or pump out water from ships which may be taking in water.One of the most useful services to the community is the Fire Service’s ambulance. Quite often, the ambulance is the only one available at the time of an accident or to fetch the sick when other ambulances are unavailable. And first-aid is a continuous activity at all times.One very important aspect of the administration of the Service is the continuous training of firemen in the most modern techniques.The Fire Service runs a Training Complex at Leonora which accommodates 60 trainees. There is also continuous foreign training in the Caribbean, especially in Barbados and Trinidad. Training in the United Kingdom is a tradition which has continued from colonial times; for example, seven firemen went to England last year for 5-week training programmes.Despite the great impact the Service makes on Guyanese life, the Management is not complacent but is always working for improvements.
