The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has concluded that an overheated electric fan was the cause of the fire at a two-story residence at Third Avenue, Bartica, on July 24, which claimed the life of 94-year-old Albert James Hopkinson also called ‘Major’, and injured his daughter.
According to the GFS, the overheated electric fan subsequently ignited and spread to combustible materials throughout the entire upper flat of the building.
The deceased’s son, Anthony Hopkinson, told the Sunday Stabroek yesterday that his sister, Dawn Hopkinson, a 54-year-old seamstress who lived with her father at Third Avenue was discharged from the hospital and is at the home of a relative home recovering from burn injuries to her face and hands.
Anthony, in an earlier report, had told Stabroek News that he could not shed any light as to what had happened on the evening when the fire broke out. His father died after being air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), while his sister was treated at the Bartica Regional Hospital for injuries sustained while trying to save her father from the blazing fire.
According to a source, at around 1 pm on the day in question, Albert was in his room when a fire erupted while his daughter was downstairs. On being alerted to the fire, she quickly rushed upstairs to save her father from the flames. Neighbours rushed to their aid, but unfortunately, Albert was badly burnt while Dawn sustained burns to her face and hands in the process.
They both were taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital, and Albert was air-dashed to the GPH where he succumbed.
According to Fire Chief Gregory Wickham, the upper flat of the two-storey wooden and concrete building was completely destroyed by the fire and the two occupants sustained burns to their body.
The GFS in a statement said that on July 24 at about 13.20 hours, the Fire Service was alerted to a fire at Third Avenue and firefighters were immediately dispatched to the location. Using two jets operating from tank supplies, and a water relay system they were able to extinguish the fire.
According to the GFS, the fire destroyed the top floor of the building but there was no damage to the ground floor. Albert sustained second and third-degree burns about his body, while Dawn sustained first and second-degree burns.
The Fire Service extended condolences to the family and friends of Albert and everyone else affected by the incident.
The GFS continues to urge citizens to exercise caution and follow safety measures to avoid home fires. “Homes should be equipped with fire prevention and firefighting devices such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or buckets of sand, which will aid in alerting people to a fire and putting it out quickly. Additionally, while grillwork provides homes and businesses with security, it is advised that there be an evacuation plan in place or a clear form of exit to be used in the event of a fire or emergency.”
