Four families have been left in a state of devastation after a fire, the origin of which is yet to be determined, ripped through a four-apartment complex at Lot C Louisa Row, Wortmanville, Georgetown, yesterday at about 4pm, leaving two families counting their losses and the other two suffering from scorched items and severe water damage.
Although no official release was issued by the Guyana Fire Service up to press time, it was reported that the fire started in the front apartment of the lower flat of the structure which is a two-storey concrete and wooden building and which housed more than a dozen persons including a baby.
At the chaotic scene yesterday, Stabroek News managed to speak to three of the tenants. Two have alleged that the fire was caused by illegal smoking of narcotics, while the other, the occupant of apartment where the fire started is refuting those claims.
According to Nigel Reynolds, who occupied the front apartment on the upper flat along with his wife and four children, at the time he was on his bed looking at television when he suddenly heard someone out on the road shouting, “fire! fire!” which prompted him to investigate.
“I deh in me bed lie down and next thing you know I hear the man ova deh [pointing to the road] hollering ‘Fire! Fire! Help!’ When I peep through the window I see the smoke rushing up, all wuh I coulda try fuh do was get me children out of deh, I couldn’t save nothing, nothing,” lamented the man.
According to him, on numerous occasions he had spoken to and cautioned the young men who lived in the apartment below him as well as those who went to visit, to desist from the illegal act but they paid him no heed. Reynolds said that he had a well furnished apartment and has estimated his losses to be in the millions.
Another tenant, Julian Henry, said that he was also in his apartment when he was alerted by a shout of “Fire!” Henry noted that the fire did not destroy any of his belongings but instead he mostly suffered water damage. “All I hear is ‘Fire! Fire!’ and when I look out I see the smoke and I tried to get out as fast as I can…our apartment ain’t get much damage just water damage, no fire.”
The man also echoed that illegal smoking is the norm at the front of the yard and suspects that could have been the cause of the fire. “Well in front there is a smoking heaven, day and night weed smoking in there.”
Meanwhile, Candacie Lowe, in whose apartment the fire started, explained to the media that her two-year-old and 12-year-old sons were at home at the time while she was at work. The young woman also refuted the smoking claims made.
“I wasn’t at home but a taxi driver that I usually travel with came to my work place and told me my home was on fire… when I came here this is what I saw [pointing to the apartment complex], the whole place already burned down to flames and the first thing I looked for was my kids.”
“I don’t smoke, my kids don’t smoke… my two sons alone was home, the twelve-year-old and the two-year-old… I does don’t leave no lighter nor no matches around the place, I have to leave to go out to work because I am a single parent I can’t stay home, I have a rent to pay, I have my children to feed, I have six kids who’s going to maintain my children?” questioned the woman.
She went on to say, “I didn’t get to save anything, is me alone and my children [so] I does gat to work. I working with a big belly, I does gat to go out I can’t stay in there. Who is going to feed the children? Who gon supply them with them thing to eat? My children does have to go to school. Who gon send them to school if I stay home?”
Lowe, who has been living in the apartment complex for the past three years challenged her accusers to provide evidence to support their claims that illegal smoking in her apartment was the cause of the fire. She contended that she will rely on the fire service’s report when it is concluded. “So even if smoking did going on in deh, did they find any weed or find anything in my place according what they are saying? Do they have any proof of that?” asked the distressed woman.
Anyone who is interested in assisting the young mother can contact her on 677-0799.
