Guyana Fire Service (GFS) investigators have concluded that the fire which destroyed two Laparkan Shipping storage bonds on Lombard Street, Georgetown on Sunday was an act of arson.
“The cause is malicious setting by person or persons unknown,” Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham yesterday confirmed.
Wickham told Stabroek News that ranks from the fire department recently completed the investigation and the matter was handed over to the police for further investigation.
It is now for the police to determine who committed the act and what the motive was.
When asked what evidence was unearthed during the investigation that points to arson, Wickham declined to disclose any other information.
Millions of dollars in cargo were destroyed in the fire which started at approximately 11.30pm.
The GFS had said that Laparkan Trading Company suffered the loss of a Bobcat machine, a quantity of office furniture, gas cylinders, crates of energy drinks, three 40-feet containers containing electrical cables and flex hoses, three electrical transformers and three 40-feet refrigeration containers.
It added that Tropical Shipping Company, which occupies a bond next to Laparkan, sustained water damage and minor fire damage. Propane cylinders, a quantity of barrels containing food stuff, clothing, household appliances and other items were destroyed.
Eleven vehicles were completely consumed by the inferno, 3 partially destroyed and 5 severely damaged.
It was a security guard who first observed the fire while he was making routine checks.
Wickham had said that the GFS received a phone call at 23.45 hrs and a single tender was responding. However, as they approached the scene firefighters observed a large tuft of smoke and flames, leading them to summon the five other water tenders and the fire boat.
“When the firefighters got here, they noticed flames were coming from the north eastern section of the wharf and teams were deployed to contain that blaze,” he explained.
While the massive fire was extinguished and contained in a “reasonable amount of time,” ranks had to monitor the scene throughout Monday as pockets of fire reignited.
According to GFS, the bonds had no means of fire prevention. “There were no smoke detectors, fire extinguishers or fire hoses installed in the building,” the GFS said.
