Fire of unknown origin early yesterday morning gutted an ice cream parlour and wholesale business located at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.
According to reports reaching this newspaper, the two-storey wooden and concrete building is the property of prominent Essequibo businessman Ivan Narine, who is out of the country. It was rented to Georgetown cambio dealer and businessman Rohan Sarjoo.
An employee of the business place, Abdool Ghani, said he received a call around 1 am on Friday from his boss, Sarjoo, who told him that the building was on fire. Ghani said he immediately rushed to the scene and found the upper and lower flats of the rear of the building engulfed in flames. The Fire Service crew was already at the scene trying to put the fire out, he also said.
However, everything was destroyed by the time they got the blaze under control.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told Stabroek News that with a gas station located next door to the building, the aim of the fire-fighters was to prevent the fire from spreading there.
Gentle said that the building’s store room was completely gutted along with about 40% of the living quarters. He noted that an investigation has been launched into the origin of the fire but it is believed that one of the transformers that carry electricity to the building malfunctioned. He said that arson has not been ruled out.
At the scene, Sarjoo said he started renting the building in November of last year to conduct business on the Essequibo Coast. According to him, the front section is used for selling of ice cream, while the clothes section is located on the lower flat at the back, where the storage bond is located. Sarjoo, who is also a former cricketer, said he could not ascertain how the fire started.
He said he was asleep when he was awakened by two of his employees, Kitty and Derrick (only names given), who were looking at a movie at the time. According to the business owner, the men told him that the lights were flickering. Sarjoo said he saw smoke coming from the bottom flat and he along with his two workmen quickly vacated the building.
After leaving the premises, he alerted the fire service, which is located not far from his business place. “They responded promptly,” he noted.
The businessman said the store’s employees would be out for jobs for approximately two weeks. “This will not stop us, we will start cleaning up the area and return to our business,” Sarjoo said. He was also optimistic that he would still participate in this year’s Mashramani celebrations, despite his recent setback. He could not give a figure on his losses, saying it was still too early to do so.
An eyewitness, who was at the scene, told this newspaper that the fire lasted for approximately two hours. Another eyewitness added that the situation could have been worse if the fire had spread to the gas station next door. The fire fighters should be praised for their relentless effort to put the fire out, she added.
Senior officers from the fire department were at the scene still trying to figure out how the fire was started. The police are also investigating into the incident.
