A family of four is now homeless after fire, said to be electrical in origin completely destroyed their three-bedroom house at Bath Settlement, West Berbice around 2 pm on Thursday.
Owner of the house, 36-year-old Zahid Naiaken told Stabroek News that he had just come from work when he saw sparks coming from the main switch. Suddenly a fire broke out and he ran out of the house shouting, “Fire!” Within minutes the entire house was engulfed as he watched helplessly.
When this newspaper arrived at the scene a large crowd had gathered. Many commented that at first when they saw the smoke they thought it was from burning tyres.
Naiaken’s wife, Zameena who was over at her brother-in-law’s house, two doors away collapsed on the road as she neared the scene. She had to be taken away as she could not bear to watch her home in flames.
At the scene, Naiaken tried desperately to douse the building with buckets of water. Loud, cracking sounds were heard coming from the building as the fire continued to spread.
Within half and hour the fire tender from the Blairmont Sugar Estate arrived at the scene and accessed water, but by that time the entire building had already been consumed. The tender nevertheless managed to contain the blaze.
Naiaken told this newspaper that he had built his house a few years ago and that it was furnished with a refrigerator, television, washing machine and other appliances. He was unable to estimate his losses.
His two sons, Tahir, 9 and Zaheer, 6 were at his parents’ home located in front of his in the same yard when the fire started. His grief-stricken mother was crying inconsolably as she lamented the destruction of her son’s house.
His father, Naiaken, a celery and eschallot farmer said he had been at the market selling his produce when he saw the flames.
He too thought they were coming from burning tyres but he hurried to the scene after someone passing on a bicycle informed him that “one of me sons’ house on fire.”
Meanwhile, two officers from the Guyana Relief Council (GRC), Donald Mentis and Rohini Bonar who were in the area to deliver relief items to Munilall Ganpat stopped after seeing the blaze and promised immediate assistance to Naiaken.
Ganpat’s house at Bath Settlement was destroyed by fire last month and he as well as one of his four daughters and a brother-in-law sustained burns about their bodies.
This newspaper caught up with Ganpat – who had suffered the worst injuries − yesterday as he was going to offer support to Naiaken, and he said his wounds were finally healing.
The GRC has also been to Sheet Anchor to assist another fire victim, Parbattie Rampersaud who lost her home in 2007.
