Fire Chief Marlon Gentle on Tuesday said that investigations into the fire that destroyed the Liana Cane furniture factory two weeks ago are still ongoing.
Gentle told Stabroek News that investigators are awaiting an official report from the Government Electrical Inspectorate before making their conclusions.
The early morning fire gutted several buildings in the factory compound at 1-5 Victoria Road, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara. It is suspected that the fire was electrical in origin. Stabroek News was told that guards on the premises had noticed the flames emanating from a section of the factory and sounded an alarm. Many neighbours who were awakened by the alarm and the intense heat generated by the flames went to the scene and formed a bucket brigade to help put out the fire. They were later assisted by the fire tenders from the Guyana Fire Service. The factory produced eco-friendly furniture through the use of vines sourced from Guyana’s interior.
Jocelyn Dow, Managing Director and founder of the company, had told Stabroek News that it was her hope the company would be able to rebuild in the near future.
The company, which began operations in 1995, employed approximately 35 persons at the factory.
