The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) says firefighters accused of being absent from the Wismar Fire Station during a reported house fire were responding to a grass fire in Bamia, while a crew from Mackenzie was dispatched to the residence.
Read the statement below from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS):
The Guyana Fire Service wishes to address allegations circulating on social media following a Facebook post made on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, concerning the alleged absence of firefighters at the Wismar Fire Station during a reported fire emergency.
The video, which was recorded at approximately 17:20 hrs at the Wismar Fire Station, featured an individual expressing concerns about the apparent absence of firefighters at the station while alleging that a fire had occurred at her daughter’s residence.
The Guyana Fire Service wishes to clarify that, at the time the video was recorded, firefighters attached to the Wismar Fire Station were actively engaged in emergency response operations at a grass fire in Bamia. All-Terrain (AT) 6, along with its crew, had been deployed to combat the blaze.
Furthermore, the Service wishes to highlight that the reported fire incident involving the individual’s daughter’s residence fell within the designated response area of the Mackenzie Fire Station. Consequently, Water Carrier #34, along with its firefighting crew, was dispatched to the location to extinguish the fire.
It is important to note that the ongoing El Niño conditions have contributed to an increase in grass fire incidents across several communities. These fires are frequently caused by indiscriminate rubbish burning, the deliberate ignition of dry vegetation, and other unsafe burning practices.
Due to the increasing frequency and magnitude of these incidents, the Guyana Fire Service has been strategically deploying available firefighting personnel and resources to respond to emergencies across affected communities.
The Service wishes to emphasise that the temporary absence of firefighters from a station does not indicate a lack of emergency response capabilities or a failure to provide services. Rather, it may indicate that personnel and firefighting appliances are actively deployed to emergency incidents.
The Guyana Fire Service remains committed to protecting lives, property, and the environment through timely and coordinated emergency responses.
Members of the public are therefore encouraged to exercise caution when sharing information on social media and to seek clarification through official channels to avoid the circulation of misleading information.
The Service also appeals to citizens to refrain from indiscriminate burning of rubbish and vegetation, particularly during periods of prolonged dry weather, as these practices significantly increase the risk of uncontrolled fires.
The Guyana Fire Service remains steadfast in its commitment to serving and protecting the people of Guyana.
