A mother and her four children are dead after a man set fire to his house at Port Kaituma, Region One last evening.
According to reports from the area, the fire started around 7pm yesterday after the woman’s husband, Linus (only name given), who operates a hardware shop at the front of his house, returned from a nearby shop where he had been drinking.
Stabroek News was told that the alleged arsonist, formerly of Mathews Ridge, Region One, is in police custody assisting with investigations.
Residents said that neighbours heard arguments coming from the house before it later went up in flames.
By bucket brigade, neighbours were able to get the fire under control by about an hour later, according to reports. The fire was initially set with the woman and her five children in the house but sources say one of the children was able to get out of the house and escape the deadly fire.
An official attached to the Port Kaituma Fire Service said the service could not respond to the fire because it does not have the facilities to put out fires that occur inland. The official said the fire engine needs to be next to a body of water in order to get an adequate supply of water to put out fires.
