A fire that was caused by a stove left unattended yesterday afternoon completely destroyed two homes at Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara leaving three squatters homeless.
Chief Fire Officer of the Guyana Fire Service, Gregory Wickham told Stabroek News that the fire started around 12.48 pm yesterday with two fire tenders responding. The first arrived on the scene at around 12.56 hours. He informed that when firefighters arrived, both buildings were already fully engulfed in flames. He disclosed that the fire was caused by a one-burner makeshift stove that was left unattended, flared up, and came into contact with combustible materials. As a result of the fire the two buildings were completely gutted.
A squatter who was not at home when the fire started, related to Stabroek News that he has been left without a home and is asking for help from the public in rebuilding since the fire completely destroyed everything he owned.
The occupant of the second home that was destroyed by the fire, Sudesh Motie, also said he was not at home when the fire started. However, when he arrived there after being alerted by his neighbours, he found out that the fire had started at his neighbour’s home.
Motie added that he had lost his bed, stove and other belongings in the fire. He recounted that when he arrived, the homes were still on fire and complained that the fire service arrived late on the scene.
A visibly frustrated Motie said that he has to stay with relatives for now and would like to get some kind of help from the public in purchasing building materials to rebuild his home.
