Seventy-one-year-old Vinci Hodge may have died from smoke inhalation after her neighbour’s house went up in flames yesterday morning.
Hodge who resided at Lot 6 Lamaha Park Squatting Area, Georgetown, was said to be asleep when the fire started.
The woman who was unable to walk and suffered from cancer was removed from her bedroom about five minutes after the flames began shooting through the roof of the house next door.
Her husband Leon James, during an interview with Stabroek News stated that he was in the shower when he heard shouts of “fire, fire!”
The man said he quickly made his way outside where he saw the flames leaping through the roof of the house next door. In attempt to prevent the fire from torching his house, he started throwing water.
About five minutes later, James stated that he removed his wife from their bedroom and held her in his arms in the living room area. At that time he said she was still breathing but in a semi-conscious state after inhaling the smoke.
However, James recalled his grand-daughter shouting for his wife after recognising that she was having difficulty breathing.
She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) but ceased breathing while on the way.
The fire damaged James’ windows, exterior wall and a washing machine. He is seeking help to repair the side of his home that was damaged in the fire.
He can be reached on 661-0788.
The fire which originally started at Lot PP 7 Lamaha Park, Squatting Area is believed to have been caused by a kerosene stove that was left unattended.
The house was said to be a family building with seven rooms and housed 15 persons including children.
Olivia Griffith, a mother of two who resided at the house that went up in flames, told this newspaper that she has lost everything.
The young woman explained that she was returning home from a clinic visit when she was told of the fire by a taxi driver.
Griffith said she immediately hailed a taxi and headed home. On arrival she found fire-fighters on the scene working to put out the fire but “everything was already burnt.”
The woman stated that she was informed of how the fire may have started but is unsure who might have left the stove on since she was not at home at the time.
She believes the fire started sometime between 8.30 and 9 am and continued until 10am.
When asked where she will go, the woman explained that her two children will stay with their grandmother for the time being but she is unsure about herself.
She noted that she left her mother’s house a long time ago and explained that there is no space for her there since she has many siblings. The young mother said she is shaken about the entire ordeal but is trying to stay strong for her children.
Griffith who has been living at the house for about five years is asking the public for any assistance that can be given. She can be reached on 698-3872.
Zonobiah Whyte, another occupant of the home that was razed told this newspaper that she was at work when she received the news of the fire from her mom.
The 19-year-old teen who resided there with her partner explained that at first she refused to believe that it was true.
Whyte stated that she began crying out of shock and started thinking of her and her partner’s important documents and her savings at home.
The woman is also seeking the public’s assistance since she has lost everything in the fire.
Whyte can be contacted on 679-1468.
