An early morning fire that was caused by a smoker who left a burning cigarette in his bedroom completely destroyed a wooden house yesterday at 47, New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop.
Two persons are now homeless as a result of the 1.30am fire which caused damage estimated to be around $1 million. Other houses, which are in close proximity to the destroyed building, were saved as neighbours doused them with water. Nothing was saved from the burnt building which had no electricity.
Neighbours recalled seeing flames coming from the bedroom occupied by the woman’s brother.
They added that the man was under the influence of alcohol when they had seen him earlier smoking in the room. He had moved under the house before the fire began.
As the fire escalated, the man was assisted from under the house as neigbours tried to save their own homes which are close to the burnt building.
Owner of the house, 51 year old, Sandra Sukhwa, told Stabroek News yesterday she was at work when she received a call from her daughter that her house was on fire. The distressed woman said that she had left her home which she shares with her stepbrother, around 5.30 in the afternoon for work.
By the time she arrived at the scene, she said, the entire building was completely gutted. The fire service arrived subsequently and extinguished the fire. She noted that this was not the first time her brother had carelessly caused a fire in the house, as it had happened on two previous occasions.
On one occasion he left a cigarette in the room resulting in his bed sheet being burnt. Sandra said, “He swear seh he nah gone smoke in de house any more and this is what happen.”
The woman said she hopes by the grace of God she will be able to rebuild her home but for now she will be staying with a neighbour.
