Bush fire blamed
An unoccupied house at Hague, West Coast Demerara said to be around 100 years old was ravaged by a fire yesterday afternoon.
A speedy response by the Fire Service saved the neighbouring building from a similar fate.
The fire, according to residents, started at approximately 1.30 pm. A man, who declined to identify himself, said that he passed by the old house around that time and saw some bush on fire in the yard. “When I pass back later I see de house on fire,” he said.
When Stabroek News arrived fire ranks were present and had already managed to douse the blaze. “They reach here fast,” one man reported, “thanks to them Hassan house ain’t burn down.”
The eastern side of the neighbouring, Lot 7 Hague house, owned by David Hassan was also damaged by the fire. All of the windows on that side of Hassan’s house were shattered and the interior badly damaged by smoke. At the time the man was unable to state the cost of the damage.
Standing at the gate posts of the ravaged building Conrad Alleyne, who identified himself as the custodian of the destroyed house, was reluctant to speak. After looking at the damage for some time he explained that the four-bedroom house once belonged to his parents, Claude and Dorothy Alleyne.
“I was burning some bushes this morning [yesterday] in the yard…I left but I made sure I put the fire out…I throw some water on it,” Alleyne explained when asked if he knew what might have caused the fire. “I don’t know what start the fire. I am positive I put the heap out before I left this morning,” the man stated.
Alleyne told Stabroek News that he was on his way to Uitvlugt when a friend of his stopped him. “I slow down de bicycle and ask he what happen and is then he tell me I better turn back because my house in Hague is on fire,” he said.
“…my brother born in that house and he is like 58 now…me and all my siblings born in that house…it about 100 years old,” Alleyne said. “My parents lived in that house until their dying day…they’ve been dead about thirty-three years now…my father was a leather craftsman,” he went on to say.
According to Alleyne, since his parents’ deaths no one has occupied the house. However, he said that it was fully furnished. “…it had five beds, a stove, a fridge, one of dem old time wall clocks, a piano…” he said listing some of the items that were destroyed.
Hassan said that Alleyne would rarely check on the house and the yard would often be overgrown with bush. The man further explained that whenever Alleyne decided to visit the place he would burn the bush.
“That’s his habit,” Hassan said, “He does set the bush on fire and gone his own way. We would have to be the ones to monitor the fire most of the time,” he further explained. “We were not home today when he burn this set of bush and look at what happened.”
The Guyana Relief Council, Hassan said, visited them shortly after the fire and promised to return today. “I am thankful to the Fire Service,” the man said, “if it weren’t for them I wouldn’t have a house now.” (Sara Bharrat)
