The utility company, Guyana Water Inc has explained its role in last weekend's fire that flattened a major section of the commercial hub along Pitt Street in New Amsterdam.
On Wednesday last, the company's top brass led by its Managing Director Derek Hodson paid a familiarization visit to East Berbice during which they toured the burnt-out site accompanied by Divisional Manager Joseph Codette and Public Relations Officer Audreyanna Thomas.
The team included Opera-tions Director Andrew Barber and Executive Director, Customer Services, Mike Byrn. During their visit the team also met with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCC&DA) at the latter's request.
According to Hodson, the water company responded as soon as it received information about the fire and started its plant in Stanleytown to support the activities of the Guyana Fire Service. "The fire tanks/underground chambers," he explained, "contained water at the time the fire started. The tanks are available all the time and can always be accessed by the fire service for fire-fighting. They can be used in the interim while we activate our operations. There were, however, some problems of co-ordination with the fire service."
The GFS in an official statement issued by its Deputy Chief Vibert Williams refuted allegations by persons affected by the disaster that the service's late response was responsible for the spread of the fire and its eventual destruction of ten business premises. "The fire service was in no way culpable or negligent in its duties during the fire," he declared.
According to Williams at 12:30 am on Saturday morning there was no water in the fire tank/underground chamber in front of A. Ali's and Sons at the corner of Main and Cooper's lane. However, Guyana Water Inc's Divisional Manager Joseph Co-dette told Stabroek News that he received a call at 12:17 am from an employee of the company and by 12:30 am the underground tank in front of Ali's Store was overflowing.
Two other tanks on Strand were also filled by 12:30 am, he had said. But Williams contradicted this saying that at 12:50am there was no water in the tanks on Strand. The fire reportedly broke out at approximately 11:45 pm on Friday night from a supermarket.
"There was water in the tanks but there were some problems in accessing the tanks but eventually they did," Hodson emphasized. "In the future we want to avoid that by ensuring that the fire service knows where the tanks are, that the tanks are readily tested and that they know how to operationalize them. There are lessons we have learnt as a result of the fire that we need to work on to make sure the fire service is able to work effectively, particularly where our facilities are concerned."
He said that with better communication and working relations the problems experienced last weekend could be overcome in the future.
In the design of the New Amsterdam Water Supply Project, the contractor was expected to install "37 pump flush-outs" now being referred to as "fire tanks" and/or "underground chambers."
Under the second phase of the project for which a contract valued at $465 million was awarded, 43 fire hydrants were installed in central New Amsterdam. However, none have been installed in the seven housing schemes along the town's suburbs and in greater New Amsterdam which encompasses Mount Sinai, Islington, Gay Park and Glasgow.
Divisional Manager Joseph Codette admitted that there are some outstanding hydrants to be installed, saying the company hopes to install some in these areas by year end. Hodson described the arrangements in relation to fire tanks as "commendable," noting that "the general provisions for fire-fighting were good as it relates to hydrants and tanks."
In the aftermath of the conflagration and other fires within recent times the question was raised by this newspaper about the need for reservoirs to be constructed at strategic points in the town for fire-fighting purposes.
Over the years the availability and adequacy of water for fire-fighting on a timely basis has been a recurring problem. Hodson's response to the suggestion was that "it was discussed today [last Wednesday] in the light of the fact that the Water Treatment Plant does not provide a 24-hour service. I think the construction of such reservoirs should be looked at."
He recalled that similar reservoirs were built in England during the Second World War for fire-fighting purposes. The level of the Republic road canal which for years has provided a major source of water for fire-fighting invariably drops significantly during the dry season posing serious problems of access.
Meanwhile a source at the GFS in New Amsterdam told Stabroek News that its probe is still continuing. He could not say when it was expected to be concluded.
However, the fire service, he said, has given permission to owners to commence clearing their lots. But this does not include the site where the J&N Supermarket was located since the investigations are centred there, he disclosed.
Some landowners have begun clearing their lots in preparation for re-construction.
According to Hodson the fire service should have been consulted when the Water Supply Project was being designed to suggest where hydrants should be placed. "If the fire service says it wants hydrants in particular areas, we would be willing to look at the request and make sure they are available."
The team also visited the New Amsterdam plant and the Rose Hall Water Supply Project on the Corentyne.
Meanwhile, a Guyana Information Agency press release yesterday reported GFS Deputy Chief Officer Vibert Williams as expressing his gratitude to members of the public who assisted firemen in extinguishing the Pitt street fire, and in particular, to Guysuco, which contributed its three Land Rover fire appliances to help douse the flames.