Six persons have been left homeless after fire of unknown origin destroyed a three-bedroom two-storey building at Lot 9 ‘F’ Ramphal St, Belvedere on the Corentyne around 10:30 am yesterday.
Owner of the house, Raymond Ram, 58, told Stabroek News that the fire reportedly started in the back bedroom. His losses are estimated at around $3.5M.
He said nothing in the upper flat, which was equipped with modern items, was saved. He was pleased though with the efforts of residents who bravely saved his refrigerator, a television set, a gas stove and other small items in his kitchen in the lower flat.
Ram, a security guard at the R & S Shopping Plaza in the village said he left home at 7 am and was at work when he received the message about the fire.
By the time he got to the scene the fire tender from the Rose Hall Fire Service (RHFS) was already there battling the blaze. Residents were also assisting.
Shortly after, fire tenders from the New Amsterdam Fire Service and the Albion Estate arrived. After the water from the tenders was exhausted they accessed more from a nearby trench.
He resided with his two adult daughters and three grandchildren. Only a daughter and his five-year-old grandson were at home and they were in the kitchen at the time. They ran out on the road to safety after they realized the house was on fire.
Ram who is also a Rural Corporal with the Community Policing Group was pleased with the prompt response of the RHFS and said “all of the firefighters did a wonderful job.”
A neighbour told this newspaper that when he noticed the blaze coming from Ram’s house persons had started to gather at the scene. Some persons had formed a bucket brigade but the building was already engulfed.
He immediately ran into the kitchen and managed to save the items and was assisted by a few other residents. He said they attempted to enter the upper flat but were prevented by the blaze.
