Four people are now homeless after a fire that was electrical in origin destroyed their home at Lot 38 Graham Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, at about 11:00 hrs yesterday.
Fire Chief Gregory Wickham told Stabroek News yesterday that the fire was electrical in origin.
Kevin Dillion, 25, who was an occupant of the home told this newspaper that he was at work at the time of the fire. Dillion explained that he noticed the flames from a distance and he phoned home to ask if it was a neighbour’s house but was notified that it was his home.
He stated that when he arrived home the upper flat was fully engulfed in flames. Public-spirited citizens assisted in soaking the neighbour’s house with water to prevent the fire from spreading. The Guyana Fire Service arrived shortly after but nothing was saved.
Dillion added that according to the GFS, the fire that started in his mother’s bedroom was deemed electrical, since an overloaded electrical outlet was situated beside her bed. At the time of the fire all the occupants were downstairs.
His mother related that she saw the smoke billowing through the window. She rushed upstairs and saw her room engulfed in flames. With the assistance of an uncle they tried to put out the fire but it continued spreading.
Dillion mentioned that the house existed for a number of years hence the reason the fire dispersed quickly.
The family is calling on the government of Guyana and the public to assist them with food, clothing and shelter. Dillion also mentioned that the family will be grateful for building material to rebuild their home. Dillion can be contacted on 660-3133 and 671-2302.
