Fishermen burned in Mahaica boat fire

From left are Derrick Balmickery, 29, and Phillip Edmonds, 42, with bandages over the burns they suffered as a result of the fire (GFS photo)
From left are Derrick Balmickery, 29, and Phillip Edmonds, 42, with bandages over the burns they suffered as a result of the fire (GFS photo)

Two fishermen escaped with their lives and minor burns on Thursday evening when a gas fire destroyed their boat.

The injured men are Phillip Edmonds, 42, and Derrick Balmickery, 29, who suffered minor burns to lower and upper parts of their bodies in the fire, which occurred at Helena, Mahaica River, East Coast Demerara.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) yesterday said it received a call at 6.10 pm on Thursday evening about a boat on fire at New Bridge, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The burnt boat (GFS photo)

In a statement, the GFS related that water tender #94 from the Mahaica Fire Station responded to the scene, where firefighters found a wooden fishing boat on fire. They were able to extinguish the blaze by using an open water source.

According to the GFS, its preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was as a result of an unattended lit stove, which ignited nearby combustible materials and spread to the entire boat.

The boat and its contents were destroyed.

The GFS reminded that on June 26, 2021, a similar incident at a Friendship, East Bank Demerara wharf led to the deaths of three persons.

As a result, it issued an appeal to boat operators and crews to follow safety protocols and take the necessary precautions to avoid the occurrence of a fire.

To ensure fire safety on boats, the GFS advised:

Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to alert occupants of a fire.

– Have an emergency plan in case of a fire.

– Turn off stove when leaving the boat or going to sleep.

– Inspect electrical wiring, connections, cords and battery-charging equipment to ensure they are installed properly and in good condition.

– Have the appropriate fire extinguishers and make sure they are easily accessible. Train all boaters on how to use them.

– Ensure cooling and exhaust systems are working properly.

– Use only certified chargers for personal electronic devices and do not overload electrical outlets.