A fire, caused by a child playing with a cigarette lighter, gutted a Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) apartment on Friday and quick action by firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to other sections of the building.
The fire started around 11.02 hrs at Lot 34 Friendship Public Road, EBD.
The two-storey wooden and concrete building is owned by 51-year-old Yonette Wiltshire. She along with nine other relatives live on the premises.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS), in a press release issued yesterday, said the fire started in an apartment situated on the north-eastern section of the ground floor of the building. That apartment and its contents were severely damaged
Upon receiving a call about the fire, the GFS said water tender #95 and a crew from the Diamond Fire Station were dispatched to the location. “Swift action by firefighters resulted in minimal damage to the entire building and a quick extinction of the fire,” it noted.
According to the fire service, investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a child playing with a cigarette lighter. Flames came into contact with a mattress and ignited, the GFS said.
The GFS is advising persons to execute caution and follow safety measures to avoid fires at their home.
It added that children should also be educated on the dangers of fire starters, such and matches and lighters and warned about their use.
“Do not leave children unattended or at home without adult supervision. Keep children away from the cooking area and ensure matches and lighters are out of reach of children at all times,” the GFS urged.
Additionally, the GFS is calling on persons to equip their homes with fire prevention and firefighting devices such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
