Guyana Fire Service receives major investment for upgrades

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is seeing improved emergency response times following significant government investment in infrastructure, equipment, and personnel. Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond noted that recent investments have enabled firefighters to respond to emergencies, such as a fire at a children’s home in Sophia, in under two minutes.

According to the 2026 Mid-Year Report, the GFS has spent $156.5 million on infrastructural upgrades, with completed work at the Campbellville Fire Station and ongoing projects at Ruimveldt, Timehri, Mahaicony, Cumberland, and Tarlogie. An additional $143.4 million was used for equipment procurement, including airport firefighting vehicles, water tenders, and water bowsers. The service also invested $47.3 million in 100 fire hydrants, with more expected by the end of the year.

Training remains a priority, with $17.4 million spent on training 107 recruits and 41 officers receiving intermediate-level investigation training. These efforts align with a $6.8 billion allocation in the 2026 National Budget intended to modernize the service and reduce human and economic losses from fires.