During a conversation with the Communicatie Dienst Suriname (CDS, Suriname Communications Service) on Thursday, November 5, 2026, Pinas painted a worrying picture of the current situation. In Paramaribo alone, between 70 and 80 reports of grass fires and rubbish burning are received daily. It does not always stop at burning vegetation. In some cases, the flames spread to homes, putting buildings and people at risk as well.
According to Pinas, the increase in grass and rubbish fires is an annually recurring problem. However, the circumstances are currently especially worrying because the fire service has insufficient staff and deployable vehicles.
Shortage of fire engines increases pressure
The fire service spokesperson stresses that there is no shortage of materials, but rather of equipment. This includes tanker trucks, fire engines and logistical vehicles that are necessary to fight fires effectively.
Several vehicles are currently out of service. The fire engine at the fire station on Toekomstweg is also not deployable. This further increases the workload on the other stations in Paramaribo.
The fire stations at Geyersvlijt, Heiligenweg, the main station on Gemenelandsweg and Toekomstweg have their hands full with the many reports. Nationwide, the stations at Lelydorp, Onverwacht and Geyersvlijt are among those most frequently called out for grass and rubbish fires.
Fire service cannot always respond immediately
Due to the large number of reports, Pinas says it regularly happens that all available fire engines are deployed at the same time. When a new fire occurs at that moment, it may take longer before the fire service arrives at the scene.
Such a situation recently occurred in Marowijne. The fire service spokesperson is particularly concerned about the consequences for fire protection if the vehicles still available also break down due to continuous deployment.
“The KBS is dealing with a shortage of good vehicles, and if we constantly have to respond to grass fires, the few good vehicles will soon also break down. Then we will face even greater problems,” Pinas warns.
Fire service criticises citizens’ behaviour
In addition to the limited capacity, the behaviour of citizens is a major problem, according to the spokesperson. Despite repeated warnings, people continue to burn grass and household waste, with all the associated risks.
Pinas refers to an incident on Wednesday morning, in which children were spotted setting grass on fire at the corner of Gemenelandsweg and Johan Adolf Pengelstraat.
The fire service therefore again calls on the public not to burn grass and rubbish. As an alternative, Pinas suggests that neighbourhood residents jointly make arrangements to have their waste transported to a public dumping site.
“We keep providing the information, but people do not listen,” says the fire service spokesperson.
The KBS stresses that the continuing grass and rubbish fires not only place additional pressure on staff and equipment, but may also affect the availability of the fire service for other emergencies. Pinas therefore makes an urgent appeal to the public to take the warnings seriously and help prevent further fires.
