An afternoon fire yesterday reduced the Region Seven Regional Democratic Council (RDC) stores building to ashes and the losses are said to number in the tens of millions.
The fire started around 2.30 pm, when police said two RDC employees were transporting fuel from a drum and flames were ignited in the building.
Both men, police said, ran for safety and immediately raised an alarm. The fire service and public-spirited persons responded.
Despite a prompt response from the fire service, Stabroek News was told that the fire razed the building within minutes as the flames were aided by the heavy winds from the river side.
“The Guyana Fire Service responded quickly, but their efforts were no match against the raging blaze…” the RDC said in a Facebook post.
It noted that the firefighters were assisted by public-spirited citizens in saving nearby structures, including the Regional Guesthouse. The post also stated that the losses were estimated to be in the tens of millions.
Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford, when contacted by this newspaper, explained that the building, which is popularly known as the regional garage, contained barrels of fuel, lubricants, electrical appliances, furniture, derelict vehicles and other items.
Bradford further related that an employee, David Higgins, 22, a sailor, who was present at the beginning of the fire, suffered burns to his right hand, left foot and face. However, he said the injuries were minor and Higgins was treated at the Bartica Regional Hospital and sent home.
Sometime after 5 pm, when he spoke with this newspaper, he said the fire service was still working to put out the flames. He declined to comment on the suspected origin of the fire and said he would await a report from the fire service at the conclusion of its investigation.
