A man died in a fire last evening at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice which destroyed two buildings and damaged a third.
The dead man has been identified as Carl Persaud who was residing at Lot 16 ‘B’ Bush Lot Public Road, WCB, which had a two-storey wooden and concrete building. The owner, Persaud, lived on the upper flat, and the lower flat housed the Nalico & Nafico Insurance Office.
Ruth Persaud, an overseas-based Guyanese, presently living in the USA, owned the property at Lot 15 ‘B’ Bush Lot Public Road, WCB. This address had a wooden and concrete building. This building was also destroyed.The upper flat was vacant, and the lower flat housed the following businesses:
– Medical Aid Pharmacy, owned by Rochelle Cheefoon, a 38-year-old businesswoman of Lot 163 Lovely Lass Village, WCB.
– Ramesh’s Jewelry, owned by Ramesh Persaud, a 46-year-old businessman of Indian descent residing at 103 Sec ‘B’ Bush Lot Village, WCB.
Sundnrada Jagmohan, a 46-year-old Guyanese residing at Lot 17 ‘B’ Bush Lot Public Road, WCB, is the owner of a two-storey concrete building, which housed two businesses on the lower flat, and the upper flat was partly burnt.
Reports say that at about 17:40 hours, persons in the area saw Carl Persaud pushing his hand through his bedroom window and simultaneously, fire spread quickly at the upper flat before persons could get to his assistance. The fire then spread to the nearby buildings and businesses.
Residents said that although two fire tenders initially responded to the fire there were issues locating water. Water was eventually located and then it was evident that fire-fighters were using hoses with holes.
Based on information gathered, fire tenders from Region Six had also responded to the fire to offer assistance.
The Guyana Fire Service last evening said that it was currently engaged in combating a significant fire on Bushlot Public Road, West Coast Berbice. “The fire was reported at 18:03 hrs, and the first response unit arrived promptly at 18:10 hrs.”
According to them, the blaze has affected five buildings and was being tackled by twenty firefighters “who have the fire surrounded with Water Tender #90 from Onverwagt, Water Tender #106 from Mahaica, and Water Tender #74 from New Amsterdam.”
The GFS said, “Our team is working diligently to extinguish the fire. We advise commuters that the area will be (filed with smoke). Please exercise caution and traverse safely.”
One resident, Debra, whose premises was one of which was saved by the efforts of public-spirited residents, explained that she was on her way from Georgetown to the location. According to her, they operate a welding shop at the location and so residents and persons gathered assisted with removing the gas tanks from the premises as well as ensuring the fire did not spread to her location.
