An Agricola, East Bank Demerara family of five lost its home to a fire yesterday afternoon.
The two-storey building at Lot 151, Kato Street, Agricola was gutted within minutes despite a swift response from the Guyana Fire Service.
The fire service, however, managed to save two other homes although they were scorched.
Compton Sparman, Head of Operations for the fire service, told reporters that around 4.50 pm the service received a call about the fire. He stated that two fire tenders from headquarters and one from the West Ruimveldt Fire Station were dispatched with 8,000 gallons of water.
He stated that heavy winds contributed to the fire growing out of control but they were able to contain it.
When firefighters arrived on the scene, the wooden building had already been engulfed and the flames were threatening two other homes. “When we saw the two other buildings were threatened, we sprang into firefighting mode and saved the other houses,” he said. It is unclear how the fire started since none of the five occupants were inside the house when it started.
Family members said only a refrigerator was on at the time of the fire.
Sherwin Alstrom, 38, a horse cart operator, occupied the house with his wife Mikeisha (only name given) and three children, who are ages 5, 3 and 1. He said no one was in the house when the fire started. “I deh doing me lil work rounding up the feed and a big woman tell me look yuh house on fire. By time I come, the whole downstairs upstairs everywhere full in fire,” the man said still in disbelief.
According to Alstrom, the owner of the house resides overseas and he has been the caretaker for several years.
The family was not able to save anything. The man could not have estimated his losses but noted that his “house had every little thing.”
Up to yesterday afternoon, he was contemplating where he and his family would be spending the night.
The family is willing to accept any form of public assistance and can be contacted on 670-4966.
