The families who were displaced after an electrical fire destroyed their properties on Saturday have estimated that over $12 million was lost due to the destruction caused.
This newspaper re-visited the site of the fire and was able to speak with the owners of the two Castello Housing Scheme properties.
On Saturday at around 11.45 am, the Guyana Fire Service was summoned to the fire and afterward acting fire chief, Kalamadeen Edoo said a total of 24 persons had occupied the two buildings. Edoo said that the fire was caused by electrical issues.
George Hopson, 84, the owner of the Lot 75 Castello Housing Scheme house where the fire started, said that he was at church with his son when the fire started. He had lived at the property with his son, his daughter, a grandson and two other children. They are currently staying at a church in the area.
Hopson said that the house was insured and they would be visiting the insurance company soon to get some relief. According to the man, they had occupied the house for almost 39 years since buying it. His son, Orin McKenzie, told this newspaper that he quit his job as a construction worker two years ago to stay home and look after his father, who is a diabetic and also has glaucoma. He said that since quitting, he has been relying on the money from the tenants for rent to look after himself and his father.
When this newspaper visited the men at the church yesterday, they said that they are uncertain of what to do and where to turn for help. They related that they are grateful for the help from the people who they attend church with. They explained that the persons had visited them both on Saturday evening and on Sunday and brought food for them. However, they do not have anywhere else to stay other than the church they currently reside at. The two men said they have gotten into contact with one of the tenants who said they found somewhere to stay however, they were unsure about the rest.
Lennox Jones, who hold the power of attorney for his brother, who owns the second house where the fire spread because of the breeze blowing it in a southern direction, said that his family is currently staying with a friend at Princes Street. Jones said that he hasn’t made contact with his brother because his phone was damaged in the fire and therefore he doesn’t know what his brother’s reaction to the tragedy was.
Jones said that he had certificates which proved his qualifications for work, as he is a mechanic and that all those along with his children’s credentials, family photos and other important documents were all burned on Saturday.
Jones said that he lived with his wife, Isabella, called Donna, and their five children. He also said that lower flat housed eight persons.
Jones said that he is unsure of what his family will do as they are currently awaiting word from their relatives who have promised to assist them in whatever way they can. He said that family friends are currently assisting with clothes and food. He also noted that he is currently grateful that his family is alive and he is grateful for the help promised and which has been received thus far.
This newspaper was able to see the aftermath of the fire and it was observed that the house immediately behind the burned house was scorched. Jones’ cousin, who owns the soup shop and lives in the house behind Jones, said that the fire spread too quickly for the shop to be saved. Rosena Noel, who lives in the house that was scorched said that she was in the shop when the fire started. She informed that they had customers who had to be evacuated and that she wasn’t able to get the money or anything out of the shop before it was engulfed. After a dark cloud of smoke entered the shop, she recalled, she couldn’t breathe and exited through the back. She said that her family also rushed out of the house through the back exit. According to the family, a microwave, fridges and other electronic appliances were burned. An observation of the scorched kitchen showed that the heat from the flames penetrated the roof and northern wall of the kitchen.
Jones’ cousin said that he witnessed the fire from start to end and that the fire service showed up without water and seemed like they arrived only to witness a fire destroy the buildings. Seemingly upset, the man criticized the fire service for being unprepared when they arrived and for not doing more. He said that the fire fighters seemed to unequipped when they arrived with empty tenders and limited fire jackets.
On Saturday, this newspaper observed that four fire tenders arrived at the scene and a source said that the fire service arrived very quickly. But when Stabroek News arrived about 45 minutes after the fire had started, both buildings were still engulfed with flames. There was a thick cloud of smoke emanating and persons were complaining about the fire service taking some time to get access to water from the nearby drains. How-ever, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn has explained that the fire service did a good job since they responded to three fires prior to the one at Castello Housing Scheme and that this was over a twelve-hour period.
McKenzie can be contacted on 604-3924 and Jones can be contacted on his wife’s number, 671-6210. They both have said that they would appreciate any help given.
