–equipment damaged
A fire of unknown origin yesterday morning swept through Marics Sales, Services and Spares sending public-spirited citizens dashing to help the company save some of its stock as the fire department fought to control the blaze.
The fire, which started just after 2 am, completely destroyed the entire upper flat of the building and scorched the nearby chambers of Hanoman Attorney at Law.
Later yesterday morning when Stabroek News visited the scene, officers from the Guyana Fire Service were conducting investigations.
The efforts of the fire department were obvious since the yard was swamped with water, while the motorcycles rescued were still parked across the street.
Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle told Stabroek News that the department received a call which alerted it to the fire at 2.16 am. He said the department responded immediately with three units and when they arrived on the scene fire was seen in the ground floor, where several motorcycles were along with several vehicle parts.
Firefighters went into operation but the fire still managed to destroy several pieces of
workshop equipment and a part of the building. According to Gentle, his department is still in the process of trying to ascertain the cause of the fire. However, he said information so far suggested that the fire might have started in the southern part of the building, which is part of the workshop area.
Marics Sales, Services and Spares which has been in existence for 50 years, is one of the few Honda dealers in Guyana.
Jean Mendonza, managing director and co-founder of Marics, told reporters yesterday that she had no idea where the fire had started. She said she was awakened and told that the building was on fire. She was escorted to the scene by a relative. Mendonza said that several motorcycles were damaged along with several documents located in the office. She was unable to comment further on the extent of damage caused since she had not yet been allowed to venture into her business place. With the support of family members she stood outside awaiting the police’s approval to venture further.
Meanwhile, a resident of a back house close to the Marics building told Stabroek News that she was awakened by a shout from another neighbour of “Fire, Fire!
“When I looked out I just saw the blaze and we just tried to get out of here very fast,” she said. The woman could not say where the fire may have started but said that the blaze was ferocious and was quickly calmed by the fire service.