An electrical fan was the cause of a catastrophic fire at the Bel Air, Park home of well-known educator, Arthur Chandra yesterday.
Chandra’s two young daughters who were home at the time escaped without injury. The fire which started in the girls’ bedroom destroyed the upper flat of the two-storey building.
It was around 1.15 pm when a security guard at the Demerara Tobacco Company spotted flames coming from the back of the home and rang the Guyana Police Force. At the time, the fire service number gave a busy signal but within minutes of the calls being placed they were on the scene.
But the first tender to arrive had little water and made a meagre contribution to dousing the flames, according to an eye-witness who joined a rescue effort and managed to save a pet turtle, a macaw and two dogs that were housed in the upper flat of the home.
The man said they were forced to use an axe to break open a door to enter the home and rescue the macaw and turtle. While he and another man were saving the animals, he said, a few other persons were downstairs shutting off the gas cylinders.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene another fire tender had already arrived and close to fifteen firemen were battling the flames. Four hoses were in operation and the men tackled the fire from Abary and Amakura Streets, Bel Air. Though some concern was raised over the proximity of other homes the fire was brought under control following the arrival of the second tender.
A sizeable crowd gathered at the scene and looked on as the firemen broke down doors to gain entry into the home and later used a power saw to bring down the grill door on the veranda.
Composed but wearing a troubled expression on his face, Chandra told reporters he was not at home when the fire broke out.
“I was at the school teaching and my elder daughter telephoned and spoke with the secretary who informed me right away. I hurried home but when I got here the fire had already done much damage. My girls were safe though,” he said.
Based on what the girls told him, he understood an electrical fan in their bedroom had burst into flames. After placing the call to their father’s school they fled to safety. He said the home is currently occupied by the girls and him since his wife is overseas.
Chandra was unable to say what his exact losses were but nothing from the home was saved. In addition, what the fire did not destroy was immersed in water. However he said he was insured and would leave the insurers to make an assessment.
Chandra who runs the ABC Academy on High Street and has been teaching primary school students for many years said he moved into the home at Lot 23 Abary and Amakura place, Bel Air just over a year ago. He said the fire service did what they could with the limited resources available to them.