In 2024, 21 deaths were recorded from fires while in 2023, there were 46 recorded deaths. This represents a significant 54 per cent reduction in fatal fires.
Fire Chief Gregory Wickham, speaking to the News Room, noted that some of the tragedies involved persons trapped in buildings while others were maliciously set or electrical.
Despite the reduction in fatal fires last year, the Fire Chief continues to urge citizens to prioritise fire safety.
“There have been no increase, there has been a reduction, a remarkable reduction and even in the causes of fires, we have had an increase in bush fires but regular structural firefighting we would have a reduction,” Wickham revealed.
The Fire Chief emphasised the importance of first-aid firefighting tools such as sprinklers, smoke detectors, and extinguishers.
“Fire prevention is the key to us having a reduction in any sort of fire, some of the things I am advising members of the public to do is to ensure that they use fire safely.
“If you are going to use fire, you should not be multitasking when it comes to the use of fires, for example some people would want to cook and wash at the same time, once you are leaving the fire unattended that can lead to the destruction of life and property,” Wickham said.
The Fire Chief also urged citizens to not leave fires unattended whether in cooking or waste disposal.
In 2024, the News Room reported that seven children died in house fires. The most recent was on December 30, 2024 where three-year-old Amanie Abrahams perished in a house fire at Cooper Street, Albouystown.
On November 16, 11-month-old Melveena Angel Blair died in a fire that destroyed her family’s home at Cummings Park in Georgetown. On July 5, four-year-old Junior Anderson died in a house fire in ‘C’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. The fire was reportedly caused by children playing with matches.
Meanwhile, on November 12, Hemwatie Singh, a 34-year-old housewife, and four of her five children died in a fire at No. 64 Village, Corentyne.
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