By Subhana Shiwmangal
An investigation has been launched by the Guyana Fire and Rescue Service (GFS) to ascertain the cause of a blaze that destroyed a range consisting of four houses yesterday afternoon at West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown.
According to Divisional Fire Officer, Clive McDonald, at about 12:23 pm, a call was received about a fire at the location. In response, four appliances were dispatched, one from Central, two from West Ruimveldt, and one from Eccles.
Upon arrival, fire-fighters observed that the upper floors of the two-storey range houses were engulfed in flames. The unit sprang into action in an effort to suppress the fire and halt its spread to other ranges,
McDonald said that the department cannot say at this time what caused the fire as it is currently being investigated. However, a preliminary investigation has revealed that someone may have left electrical equipment on, likely an iron. He promised that an update would be provided as more details emerge.
As a result of the fire, the upper flat of the range house was destroyed along with its contents and on the ground floor, some household items were also burnt. Significant water damage was also sustained. McDonald also said that there was a dog at the back of one of the homes that has not been accounted for, however. A pet rabbit was scorched as a result of the flames and handed over to a veterinarian for treatment.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene at about 1:37 pm, the flames had already been extinguished and two fire engines were on the scene. No other range was affected by the blaze.
Stabroek News spoke to occupants of the range houses and some related that the iron was the cause of the blaze while some were not sure what caused it.
Joycelyn Moore, 61, 99 West Ruimveldt, who occupied the first range house said that around 12:15 pm she was in her apartment with her daughter and her four children including a 3-month-old baby, when she heard her neighbour opposite shouting, “fire, fire!” She said she looked outside and saw that it was indeed a fire and she and her family ran out of the house. She added that persons nearby called the fire service and they arrived quickly on the scene. She recalled that the fire started in the second range house and everyone was trying to save the last house on the range. Moore couldn’t place a value on the things she lost but said that everything was destroyed, including her bed, clothes, television, refrigerator, and a bag with her money. She did however manage to save a chair and a shoe stand. Moore surmised that the fire was caused by her neighbour leaving the iron on and forgetting about it. She added that she would need assistance as she is now left without a home.
Meanwhile, 70-year-old Desiree Ogle, the occupant of 100 West Ruimveldt – the second range house – told this newspaper that her neighbour who occupied the third range house alerted her that she was hearing strange popping sounds in her bedroom. Ogle said that she immediately ran upstairs to see where the noise was coming from and saw the wires on the wall ablaze. Unable to save anything, she instantly ran downstairs and out of the building. She said she was the only occupant of the house at the time and was preparing to go out when the fire occurred. Ogle could not estimate the cost of what she lost, but noted that everything was gone, including all of her household items. She recalled that her dog was left at the back of the house at the time and was not sure if the pet managed to escape. She said she was not sure what caused the blaze.
The occupant of the third range house, Veronique Noel, 48, of 101 West Ruimveldt, said that around 12:20 pm she smelt smoke first and then saw it. She then alerted her neighbour. At the time of the fire, she said she was alone in her apartment and after she alerted her neighbour she immediately contacted the fire service. Noel informed that the fire had already engulfed her apartment and that she lost everything, including her passport, and television and she too would like some help in recovering what was lost. She could not say what caused the fire.
Roy George, who is the caretaker of the last range house, 102 West Ruimveldt, said when the fire started he rushed from work to see what was happening. When he arrived, he saw the firefighters at work trying to extinguish the flames. George disclosed that the occupants of the house are overseas at the moment and many items were damaged due to the water, including the floor, refrigerator, and bed. He said he heard the fire started from the second range house and that the iron was left unattended and plugged into the electrical point, causing the blaze to occur.
