A fire of unknown origin destroyed a home at Parika, East Bank Essequibo yesterday leaving a mother and her daughter with just the clothes on their backs.
It was not clear what could have caused the fire, which started a few minutes before 11 am, and which, in the space of 15 minutes razed the two-storey building.
Persons on the scene criticized the response of the fire service, which arrived after the home had already been destroyed.
Smoke was seen emanating from the building, located at the Parika public road, a few minutes before 11am yesterday and persons quickly converged on the scene. The flames spread quickly and thick black smoke billowed from the burning building as a few persons attempted to battle the flames with their small buckets. It was an effort in vain, however, and many persons voiced concerns as to the whereabouts of the fire service.
A neighbouring house was in danger of catching afire also but a strong breeze blew the flames away from that building. But persons were not taking chances and broke through the door to remove some articles in spite of the great heat that radiated from the burning building.
The fire service eventually arrived at exactly 11.14 am, but by then the building had already been destroyed and the flames were dying down.
Owner of the destroyed home, Desiree Manjet told Stabroek News that she was grinding pepper on the back steps of the home when she heard persons sounding an alarm. “I hear somebody on the road shouting ‘Fire! Fire!” she stated. The woman recounted that she ran upstairs to check and “when me go upstairs the whole two bedroom deh on fire.” She said that she had no idea what could have caused the fire and declared that no lights were on in the house and although the television set was on it was not in the bedroom.
Her daughter, who also resides at the home, was not there when the fire started. Apart from a few books almost nothing was saved from the home. Manjet declined to state the amount of her losses only to say that “me house got nough nough thing.” She said that she had been living there for about 50 years.
Meanwhile, at the neighbouring house, owner, Avanell France was in shock. She recounted that her daughter had shouted “fire” and “all I could do is turn off the main switch and save me two children.” The front door to her home was broken into by residents, after it appeared in danger of catching afire and they managed to drag out some items, while a tiny shop in front of the home was also broken into as residents attempted to save the items inside. “Me ain’t even know what damage,” the upset woman stated.
Meanwhile, when the fire service arrived, many residents voiced derisive comments about it. “Fire service is a joke,” one obviously annoyed man remarked while others agreed and made similar comments. Arthur Thorne, who said that he was the chairman of the Parika/Mora Community Development Council called for a “proper water system” in the area, including fire hydrants. “We need a better water system in the community,” he stated.
The firemen quelled the remaining flames before leaving while Guyana Power and Light workers disconnected the electrical connections to the buildings.
Manjet said that she would spend the night with one of her daughters.
