A fire of unknown origin on Sunday afternoon destroyed a wooden dwelling at the Bartica Arcade, Bartica, Essequibo River.
A police release stated that though the one-bedroom building was abandoned by its owner, 68-year-old Alfred Wyatt, it was at the time of the fire occupied by a Venezuelan national.
According to Seeyone Lindore, a 45-year-old businessman of Bartica Arcade, at about 5.30 pm, he was at the Arcade when he observed smoke coming from the building.
He then observed a Venezuelan national, Carmen Ruiz, running out of the yard whilst uttering: “It was an accident”. Lindore said he raised an alarm and contacted the Police and ranks responded to the scene, as did the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Water Tender #98 and Water Bowser #11.
However, by the time the GFS and Police arrived, the building was completely destroyed. Ruiz, who occupied the building, was contacted by Police and questioned. She alleged that on Sunday about 16:30hrs, she left Bartica Arcade and went to a supermarket to purchase groceries. When she returned, she observed the mattress on fire. Ruiz had said she attempted to pull the mattress out of the building but was unable to do so. As the fire started to spread she then ran for safety.
The Guyana Police Force reported that no other building was damaged. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. Ruiz is currently in police custody assisting with investigations.
