A fire of unknown origin last evening gutted a two-storey building which housed Nesha’s Flower Shop on the corner of Church and Carmichael streets.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene, fire was seen blazing at the back entrance of the building while in the northern section thick smoke was seen emitting from the creases and windows of the wooden structure which once housed the office of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry.
An eyewitness told this newspaper that around 5 pm yesterday, he was riding along Church Street when he saw smoke issuing from the building and immediately contacted the fire service which he said acted promptly and controlled the blaze.
Three fire trucks were on the scene working together to gain control of the fire.
One fire-fighter who was present at the scene related that the wooden structure was heavily grilled and barred up with plyboard which made it harder for them to get inside and bring the blaze under control.
He further noted that a concerted effort by the fire service got the blaze under control but smaller fires started in the eastern section and these had to be doused.
Arriving on the scene, owner of the flower shop Jasmine Deonauth told reporters that her business was constantly targeted by vagrants and blamed them for the fire.
She further stated that there were two animals at the top of the building which were scheduled to be fed later yesterday afternoon.
When asked about her losses, Deonauth said that she could not account off hand, due to the fact that she had just stocked up for the approaching Christmas season and many of the goods were stored at the top flat of the building.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle related to Stabroek News that the service received a report of a blaze and quickly rushed to the scene with three units.
Gentle further noted that the plan was to surround the fire as quickly as possible to out the small blazes which were seen starting from within the building.
He further noted that at the back entrance where the fire started, there seemed to have been a plastic/synthetic material which interfered with fire-fighting efforts.
The upper part of the building he said, has been completely damaged while the front suffered smoke damage. (Javon Vickerie)
