A pensioner was left counting millions of dollars in losses yesterday morning, after a fire of unknown origin destroyed her Haslington North, East Coast Demerara home.
Stabroek News was informed that the fire started around 11 am at Lot 76 Third Street, Haslington North, East Coast Demerara.
The concrete and wooden house is owned by Jocelyne Mc Bean, 72.
It is suspected that the fire started in one of the six bedrooms of the house.
Mc Bean reportedly related to the police that she, her daughter and four of her grandchildren were in the upper flat of the house, when one of her grandsons related that he was smelling something burning.
As a result, an alarm was raised and her older grandson, who lives a distance away, rushed to their rescue.
Upon checking, the man noticed smoke emanating from a bedroom in the northern section of the house. He immediately summoned the Guyana Fire Service.
Firefighters arrived promptly at the scene, but experienced a delay due to inadequate water. However, they managed to stop the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
With the help of residents of the area, most of the furniture and electrical appliances were saved.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
