A quick response from neighbours stopped a fire, believed to be electrical in nature, from destroying a house at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara yesterday morning.
The fire, which began around 9:15, is believed to have been triggered by an electrical wire that was leading to a chicken pen at the back of the Phase Two house. Most of the interior of the bottom flat of the house as well as a suite and a dining table were destroyed. Losses were estimated at around $300 000.
The occupants of the bottom flat, Nafeeza Critipal, and her husband, Gavin Critipal, were not at home when the fire began.
However, Nafeeza’s brother, who lives with her mom in the top flat of the house, said that he was at the back of the house when he heard an explosion and started to smell tyres burning.
The boy said that when he looked he saw fire coming from the bottom flat.
He then tried to extinguish the flames with a bucket of water but by then neighbours had rushed to render their assistance.
The Critipals said that they received a call from an uncle informing them that their house was on fire.
They added that when they arrived home the fire had already been put out by neighbours.
A neighbour living opposite the house recalled seeing thick smoke issuing from the building but she thought it was the water pump in the yard that was burning. She said that she began screaming for help and other neighbours, who were around, rushed to the scene and began putting out the fire. They managed to extinguish the flames before the fire service arrived.
