The fire that broke out at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) yesterday morning was said to have been started by one of the in-patients at the Psychiatric Ward who was arrested and afterward released back into the care of the institution.
The fire began minutes after nine in a room on the ground floor of the ward and while the blaze was prevented from spreading further, the heat and smoke emanating from the engulfed room caused damage to a nearby room. Quick action by the hospital staff saw the fire being contained until the arrival of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) who put out whatever was left of it.
According to police commander, Edgar Thomas, the suspect who was said to have started the fire, was staying in a room with five other in-patients. It was suggested by them that it was the suspect who was the one responsible for the fire.