A Chinese business was counting its losses yesterday morning after a fire destroyed sections of a building on Robb Street, Georgetown, which housed a variety store, while the occupants of neighbouring properties were breathing a sigh of relief after quick action by firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading.
The fire, which started around 9.15am, gutted the ground and first floors of the four-storey concrete building, which is located at Lot 56 Robb Street, Georgetown, between Camp and Alexander streets.
It lasted for about two hours.
While the fire is suspected to be electrical in origin, officials of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) were unable to make a definitive pronouncement up to late yesterday afternoon since officers were still at the scene conducting investigations.
The building is rented to Chinese nationals, who operate a variety store on the ground floor. The other flats are used as a bond to store stocks by the store owner as well as others.
The owner’s name was given as Henry Alphonso.
When approached for a comment, the Chinese nationals refused to say anything about the fire, which started on the top floor of the building and quickly spread to the lower levels. Owner of Jap’s Halall Meat Market, Jap Rahaman, whose business is located to the east of the building, said he was at home when he received a call informing him of the fire. “When I reach, I saw the fire at the top flat and out of curiosity I started to enquire how it started when I was told that they did welding in the building, when some generator blow up and the people run out,” he said.
This newspaper was told that the welding was being done by workers in the top floor when the generator that they were using exploded. The men reportedly panicked and ran out of the building. Shortly after, thick black smoke was seen billowing from the building.
Persons who were liming opposite the building recalled hearing a loud explosion before the fire started.
Residents raised an alarm and the GFS was summoned.
The firefighters made attempts to contain the fire but were delayed in doing so. Officer-in-Charge of Operations at the GFS Compton Sparman told reporters that it was clear that the building stored highly-combustible products that were acting as accelerants. However, he said that all measures were taken to ensure that the fire did not spread to other buildings located nearby.
“We created ventilation, the hydrants are working and we also have water,” Sparman said, while reporting that the fire was under control at the time.
He explained that there was a delay in putting out the fire since the water system takes 15 minutes to build up and it was the time of the day where people were using a lot of water. “We had to take some time to divert the water to the hydrants,” he said.
Meanwhile, Comma-nder of ‘A’ Division Clifton Hicken, who was at the scene, said that police ranks were fully deployed to assist. “We contain the place and because of buildup in the area, it took more resources than we would normally go on a fire scene with,” Hicken said, while adding that there was no report of any looting.
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan was also at the scene but he refused to comment on the fire when approached by the media.
The area surrounding the building was cordoned off and police ranks were directing the traffic. The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) was also summoned to disconnect the power supply to the building. When the fire started, scores of persons gathered to get a glimpse of what was transpiring. The fire engine that arrived first on the scene was quickly followed by three others, including one from the Guyana Prison Service.
As flames engulfed the upper flat of the building, some of the glass windows were shattered due to the intense heat. Cracks were seen on other glass panes at the front of the building. In light of the potential danger they posed if shattered, the police ensured that no one went in proximity of the scene and that the vehicles that were parked along the roadway were removed to avoid damage.
Numerous businesses located along that section of Robb Street closed yesterday morning. While some reopened yesterday afternoon, others remains closed until tomorrow.
