A Corentyne teacher died on Tuesday night at Port Mourant, Corentyne after a blaze of unknown origin destroyed his and his neighbour’s house.
Dead is Tokant Deokharan, 44, who resided at Manager’s Quarters, Port Mourant, Corentyne alone in a one-storey wooden house. The fire reportedly started at Deokharan’s house and spread to his neighbour’s two-storey wooden and concrete house destroying both and killing Deokharan in the process.
The Guyana Fire Service yesterday said that they are currently investigating the circumstances that led to the massive blaze in Port Mourant. According to them, at 10:17 p.m., the Fire Service was alerted to a fire at Manager’s Quarters, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.
Water tenders #74, #78, and seven fire-fighters under the command of Section Leader Mainty from the Rose Hall Fire Station immediately responded.
“Upon arrival fire-fighters observed two buildings fully engulfed in flames and smoke. The building of origin was a one-storey wooden and concrete house owned by 43-year-old Asti Deokharan of the United States and occupied by 43-year-old Tokant Deokharan.”
As a result of the fire, Deokharan perished, and the building and its contents were destroyed.
“Also affected by the blaze was a two-storey wooden and concrete house located in the same compound and in close proximity to the building of origin, which was owned and occupied by 75-year-old Ameena Bacchus. That building was also destroyed, leaving the woman homeless.”
The fire service added that three jets working from Water Tenders #74 and #78’s tank supplies were used to contain and subsequently extinguish the fire.
Expressing their condolences to Deokharan’s family, they said that the fire prevention officials will investigate until the cause of the blaze is determined.
“Citizens are reminded to make premises safe against the risks of fires by equipping homes and businesses with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and smoke alarms.”
Deokharan reportedly resided alone after his parents passed away with his only sibling residing overseas. Residents described him to be a pleasant person.
Mohamed Wazir Bacchus told Stabroek News yesterday that his 75-year-old mother Ameena Bacchus resided next to Deokharan at Lot 24 Manager’s Compound, Port Mourant. He said, that he was home when he received the message that Deokharan’s house was on fire. When he got to the location, his mother had already exited her premises with the help of her neighbours.
Soak
“I come here and (Deokharan’s) house was halfway on fire but the fire tender them keep soaking it where they could a soak my mother house. We had to use some (expletives) and them bai pull the hose but be time that my mother house catch a fire already and the fire start spread.”
According to Bacchus, the upper flat of his mother’s house was wooden while the lower flat was concrete and both were fully furnished. The family estimated the losses to be close to $25m. The elderly woman is now staying with one of her sons at Number One Village, Corentyne.
Residents said that the elderly woman enjoyed living alone and would often speak about her preferring to reside at the location on her own.
Meanwhile, another neighbour, Safraz Beekham, said that around 10 pm they heard an explosion and upon looking out they saw “fire a pour out from Sir house.”
“Abbay run out and start shout and we get the old lady (Bacchus) out from the house.”
The resident expressed his frustration at the situation explaining that the fire service was not able to gain access to the area due to stalls located on the parapet.
The fire happened at the street where the Port Mourant Market is located and for years now people have built stalls and occupied the parapet of the neighbouring cross street through which the fire started.
“The market stand wah them people get there cause the whole issue because it would a been a different scene if the truck them did get to come in. Them had to run the hose from the main road, none truck couldn’t come in.”
The resident called on the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) which the market falls under to look into the matter as they are concerned that if a similar situation is to recur then they will be affected again.
“The stand block up the street and that wah cause more issue because they would a get to save the old lady house. Them fire-fighter couldn’t do better because them na get the power from the water because them had to park on the public road and run that hose to meet here and nothing can’t access certain time in this area and that na market deh.”
The man said, that previously he had complained to the NDC about the same matter, “when the road been a build them just shift them stand and when it done them come back.”
