An investigation has been launched by the Guyana Fire and Rescue Service (GFS) to ascertain the cause of a blaze which destroyed a two-storey house at 3B New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Demerara yesterday morning.
According to a release from the fire service, at about 11:21 am, a call was received about a blaze at the location. In response, water tenders from the La Grange and Eccles fire stations were immediately dispatched to the location.
Upon arrival, fire-fighters observed a two-storey wooden and concrete building which is owned and occupied by Harry Deodharry, 67, engulfed in flames. The efforts of the firefighters resulted in the containment of a major fire that threatened to destroy three neighbouring houses.
The fire-fighters used two jets from Water Tender #111 and an open water source to extinguish the blaze. However, the first floor of the building was severely damaged and its contents were destroyed, while the ground floor sustained water damage.
The neighbouring two-storey building was largely unaffected by the blaze. According to the GFS release, the radiated heat from the blaze caused a one-metre section of PVC guttering nearest to the flames to melt.
Ameela, the neighbour whose gutter was damaged, praised the GFS for the swift action taken to extinguish the fire and prevent it spreading to her house. She told Stabroek News that around 11:21am yesterday, she called her husband from her home and alerted him to the fire and for him to call the GFS.
Her husband, a taxi driver, who was working at the time, also praised the prompt response of the fire service and how quickly they extinguished the fire. He noted that he got to the scene shortly after calling them and saw that they were already there.
Meanwhile, a Guyana Police Force release said that the owner reported that when the fire started, he was in his office along with his four employees. A passerby alerted the owner that smoke was coming from the upper flat of his house.
Upon investigation, the man was confronted by thick black smoke that engulfed the upper flat of the building. He quickly alerted his staff and they all managed to evacuate the building to safety.
The release also informed that a partly damaged licensed 9mm firearm was recovered. It was later lodged at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police station.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The owner told Stabroek News that he had sustained a lot of losses. He said he was satisfied that the GFS did the best they could. (Subhana Shiwmangal)
