An early morning fire yesterday gutted an apartment complex at Ogle, East Coast of Demerara, leaving seven persons in search of new homes.
The fire began sometime between 6.30 am and 7 am in one of the apartments located in the Lot 34 South Railway Line, Ogle property.
When the fire started, Stabroek News was told, neighbours responded immediately and assisted in removing furniture and electrical appliances from the building. The fire service responded approximately 15 minutes after being summoned and battled the fire.
Audrey Wilson, co-owner of the property, said a tenant was sleeping in one of the rooms of the apartment where the fire started. However, when she realised a fire had started in the unoccupied room, she called on her landlord, Birtley Wilson. He tried but was unable to contain the flames.
Audrey Wilson said they formed a bucket brigade but the fire quickly spread across the building, hindering their chances of putting it out.
At this point, neighbours quickly moved through the apartments and removed some of the appliances and furniture. During this time, the fire service responded and put out the fire. Stabroek News understands that they did not encounter any hindrance during the firefighting. Despite this fact, Wilson said their losses are in the millions. She noted that only a few items were saved and majority of their clothing, beds and other household necessities were damaged.
Nevertheless, she was grateful to be alive. “Where there is life, there is hope,” she asserted.
The tenant in the apartment where the fire started related to the landlord that no electrical appliance was plugged in since she was sleeping and her sister, with whom she shared the home, was not around.
At the time of the fire Wilson, her husband and their three children occupied the western part of the building. Birtley Wilson’s electrical business was also housed in the building.
Members of the Guyana Fire Service were praised for containing the fire so that it did not spread to another house situated in the yard.
The Guyana Fire Service is currently conducting investigations to determine the cause of the fire.
