A baby had to be thrown from the third floor to a waiting relative during Wednesday’s towering blaze in Charlestown which the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) yesterday said was caused by a slack connection to electrical points.
In a statement yesterday, the GFS said that the fire that devastated the three-storey building at 33 Lyng Street, Georgetown erupted after the slack connection caused overheating, resulting in a breakdown of the installation, leading to arcing and sparking and the subsequent ignition of nearby combustible materials.
Fire-fighters, fire trucks, water carriers, and ambulances from the Central, West Ruimveldt, Alberttown, Campbellville, and Eccles Fire stations were all part of the operations to contain and extinguish the blaze and to provide help to anyone who suffered injuries as a result.
The statement said that two jets working from Water Carrier #16 tank supply and one jet working from Water Tender #105 tank supply, in conjunction with Water Tender #85 working a water relay system from a fire hydrant, were used to quell the fire.
By the time the fire was put out, the building and its contents were destroyed, leaving 14 persons homeless.
Also affected by the fire was a building located at Lot 34 Howes Street, Charlestown, which suffered severe damage to a television set, a stereo set, a refrigerator, and a section of the southern internal wall. Other items, including another TV, a fan, and a quantity of windows and walls, were slightly scorched due to radiated heat from the building of origin.
According to the GFS, two other buildings, a motor car and a motorcycle were also damaged as a result of radiated heat.
Meanwhile, the father who threw his baby son to safety is said to be stable after sustaining burns to his back.
Earl Scott, father of the patient, told Stabroek News on Thursday that he was thankful that his grandmother, son and baby were able to escape the burning building. His grandmother escaped from the lower flat while his son and baby were asleep on the third floor where it is presumed the fire started. Scott said his son threw the baby from the third floor verandah and the boy was caught by a relative. His son eventually made it out of the burning building but not before suffering burns to his upper back from the flames. Scott said he was not at home when the fire started so he is not in a position to say when and how it exactly started. He told Stabroek News that when he arrived home, family members suggested to him that the fire may be electrical in nature.
Scott and his family members are now staying with friends and a relative in Howes Street since they have nowhere else to go. When asked about losses sustained from the fire, Scott noted that while he cannot estimate his losses, he and his wife had recently acquired a loan for renovations to the home. A car and three motorbikes were destroyed and three dogs also perished in the fire.
Asanty James, 22, who along with her mother, common-law husband and daughter occupied an apartment in the building that was damaged said she could not recall exactly what time the fire started but estimated that it would have been after 6 pm. She added that she was at home with her baby when she heard screams of ‘fire!’. She related that she also heard someone shouting, “Bring a bucket of water!”, and thought the fire was a minor one. However, when she peered through her window, she saw the blaze and smoke from the building next door and immediately grabbed her daughter and ran out the apartment.
Asanty also informed that the GFS interviewed her but is unable to say what will be the outcome from the interview. She was advised to visit the Guyana Relief Council to secure possible assistance. She added that she and her family stayed at her in-laws on Wednesday night. She said that three other tenants who occupied the building were not affected. Another neighbour, Delon Jarvis, 44, whose home is situated in the same block said he too was not at home when the fire started but rushed home immediately when he heard that his neighbour’s house was on fire. Jarvis said that on his arrival the Guyana Fire Service had not yet arrived at the scene. He said the side of his home was slightly affected by the blaze. A two-storied wooden and concrete building apartment building nearby was partly affected by the fire.
Stabroek News on Thursday spoke to the Fire Chief, Gregory Wickham. He said that a report of the fire was received at 18.45 hours. Upon arriving at the scene, the GFS observed a three-storey wooden and concrete building on fire. GFS noted that the first water tender arrived on the scene at 18.50 hours. The fire, the GFS said, was completely extinguished at approximately 20:20 hours. (Subhana Shiwmangal)
