Five Chinese nationals are today counting their losses and are also thankful that their lives were spared after a fire ripped through a building at Sussex and Saffon streets that housed a supermarket.
Reports are that the fire started at about 2:30 am yesterday in the vicinity of Saffon and Sussex streets, Georgetown, opposite the La Penitence market.
With thick smoke emanating and seen from afar, six water tenders, one hydraulic platform, one fire boat, and a hose layer from the Central, Alberttown, Campbellville, West Ruimveldt and Eccles fire stations and Fire Service Headquarters responded to the scene.
When they arrived just close to 3 am, firefighters sprang into action to contain the fire. They were told that some Chinese nationals were trapped in the building.
Several minutes later, five Chinese nationals appeared and had to be rushed immediately to hospital, where they were treated for smoke inhalation.
When the Sunday Stabroek spoke to Fire Chief, Gregory Wickham, he explained that the Chinese nationals showed no signs of being burnt and were rescued by the breaking of a wall. He added that the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
“The cause of the fire. Investigators are all on the ground going through the debris to find the cause of the fire and so when found the details will be released.”
Wickham said that given how close the buildings are to each other and the materials they are built with, the firefighters did an excellent job in containing the fire to just one building.
“It was excellent. The fact that we were able to rescue persons from a burning building was excellent.”
Firefighters also managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the market and nearby buildings located to the south and east of the burning building.
When Stabroek News revisited the scene after midday, some ten hours later, firefighters were still putting out pockets of fire. However, it was eventually fully contained.
Losses are yet to be determined.
