A fire, suspected to be electrical in origin, destroyed a Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) house yesterday afternoon leaving a couple counting millions of dollars in losses.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told Stabroek News that the fire which gutted the two-storey concrete structure situated at Lot 107 Middle Street, Buxton, ECD started around 2.30pm.
The house was owned and occupied by Ray Bobb, 51, and his wife, Margott Bobb, 48. The couple occupied the upper flat of the house while the lower flat housed a shop and a beauty salon which was operated by Margott. The two small businesses were also destroyed by the fire.
At the time, Ray was sleeping while Margott had just returned home from Georgetown.
Nothing was saved.
Gentle explained to Stabroek News that preliminary investigations revealed that the fire started in one of the bedrooms of the house.
He said it is suspected that the fire was electrical in origin. “We believe electricity played a great role in the fire,” Gentle said. However, he added that investigators are waiting on officials from the Government Electrical Inspectorate to conduct an inspection before the cause is definitely determined.
The fire has left the Bobbs in a state of shock.
The couple daughter, Okel Bobb told Stabroek News that she received a call informing her of the fire. Okel said she and her sister hurried over to the scene.
By the time they arrived, she said the entire top flat of the house was already engulfed in fire.
“To be honest, no one can give a proper explanation how it started, where it started, what caused it and so because my mother and father still shocked,” Okel noted.
Okel added that the fire was “out of control” and fortunately, fire-fighters were able to prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
The Bobbs are currently seeking shelter at a relative’s place until they decide their next move.
