Wildfires force evacuation of 38 residents in Santa Mission, Guyana

Thirty-eight residents of Santa Mission in Guyana have been evacuated as wildfires continue to ravage the community.

The Guyana Fire Service said they evacuated the residents on Wednesday as the ongoing fire crisis in Santa Mission has “reached a critical point, rendering it impossible for firefighters to access the affected areas for extinguishing efforts.”

“The safety and security of the affected residents remain our top priority. Firefighters, members of the Joint Services and volunteers are working tirelessly to manage the situation and provide necessary support to those impacted by the fire.”

Thirty-four of the evacuees have been temporarily housed at the Timehri Primary School, while the remaining four are being accommodated by their relatives.

Multiple wildfires are burning across Guyana.

Data released by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali showed fire officials responded to over 2,200 fires between March 26 and April 2.  

The regions most affected by fires were East Berbice-Corentyne and Mahica-Berbice, which both recorded around 1,000 fires.

Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency said the fires were caused by a mixture of spontaneous combustion and human activity.