The China Star store burnt to the ground in Lethem, Region Nine on Saturday night.
No one was injured.
According to John Macedo, the Mayor of Lethem, a massive fire that erupted on the top floor devoured the store being rented by two Chinese nationals – Wuumo Cheng and Wuujian Giun.
The exact time the fire started is unclear but firefighters detected the blaze sometime after 8 pm and immediately rushed to the scene at 8:15 pm, according to a release by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).
The store was a wooden and concrete building of two floors.
Macedo, who was part of the fire-fighting group that hurried to the scene, told Stabroek News that upon arrival at the area they broke down the door on the ground flood and tried to contain the fire from inside the building. However, the blaze had spread quickly across the building and they were forced to exit.
Realizing that they could not contain the blaze from the outside as well, he said fire-fighters focused on ensuring that the conflagration did not spread to buildings close by. With the use of a pressurized fire hydrant they were able to extinguish the blaze and save several buildings in close proximity to the China Star Supermarket, the GFS said.
A lone occupant was asleep in the building when the fire started. He told Macedo he was unware the building was on fire and woke to the sound of the fire truck siren. He was not injured.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
The fire has left two persons homeless and more than ten persons jobless, the GFS said.
Robeson Benn, the Minister of Home Affairs and Gregory Wickham, the Chief Fire Officer (ag), Sheldon Sauns, GFS Fire Prevention Officer and a team of investigators yesterday visited the location to assess the damage and ascertain what caused the fire.
The team met with Macedo, operators of the China Star Supermarket, representatives of the local business community, and other residents to discuss the way forward and the required steps that must be taken to prevent a repeat of such a significant loss by fire, according to the GFS.
In its press statement, the GFS said that an issue that will be addressed is the certification of buildings in the Lethem commercial area to ensure that they are in keeping with the building codes as the design of the store as well as the materials used in its construction hampered firefighters from gaining access to the building.
A Fire Prevention Plan will be developed for the township of Lethem and more fire hydrants will be planted in the area in efforts to stay ahead of the curve. This initiative will extend to all regions.
The GFS extended gratitude to Macedo, Sgt. Austin, Auxiliary Firefighters and all other public-spirited citizens who lent their support last evening and played a vital role in containing the fire.
