The Monday night fire that destroyed multi-million dollar machinery at Guytrac on Mandela Avenue started in the company’s compound and there is no evidence that it originated from a furnace at a neighbouring business, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle says.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, Gentle told Stabroek News.
The fire reportedly started at around 10 pm on Monday and a company official said that their losses were in the millions.
Two excavators, a combine and a D9 bulldozer were among the machinery burnt.
Gentle defended the response of the fire service. Two fire engines were present at the scene with the first from the West Ruimveldt Fire Station and the other showing up a few minutes later, he said. Guytrac Supervisor Debbie De Abreu had said that five minutes after the water engine arrived, water was finished.
However, Gentle said the fire engines normally carry enough water to last approximately three minutes on a fire scene “so the fact that the water last five minutes is actually excellent.”
Efforts to speak with the owners of the neighbouring business, Shurland Case and Pallet MFRS Ltd were unsuccessful.
