Two fishermen have been injured following the explosion of a gas bottle onboard a vessel which was in the Mahaica River, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
They have been identified as 42-year-old Phillip Edmonds and 29-year-old Derrick Balmickery.
Police said the explosion occurred at around 16:45hrs on Thursday.
According to the police report, a crew member decided to cook and upon lighting the gas stove, the gas bottle exploded, causing the cabin to catch fire.
As a result of the flames, the two fishermen received minor burns about their bodies.
They were escorted to the Mahaicony Hospital where Edmonds was treated and sent away while Balmickery was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Investigations are ongoing.
See full statement from the Guyana Fire Service:
Boat fire at Mahaica
The Guyana Fire Service received a call at 18:10 hrs last evening and was alerted of a boat on fire at New Bridge Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
Water tender #94 from the Mahaica Fire Station responded to the scene where firefighters found a wooden fishing boat on fire.
Firefighters sprung into action and was able to extinguish the blaze by using an open water source.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was as a result of a lighted stove left unattended, which ignited nearby combustible materials and spread to the entire boat.
The boat and its contents were completely destroyed and two persons suffered injuries as a result of the fire.
On June 26, 2021 a similar incident at a wharf located at Lot 1213 Friendship ,EBD led to three persons tragically losing their lives.
In light of these incidents the Guyana Fire Service would like to appeal to boat operators and crew to follow safety protocols and take the necessary precautions to avoid the occurrence of a fire.
Tips to ensure fire safety on boats:
– 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.
