-several families homeless
A devastating fire ravaged an apartment building in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Monday afternoon, leaving significant damage in its wake and several families homeless.
The fire, which spread rapidly within minutes, destroyed multiple apartments and affected nearby properties. Stabroek News visited the scene the yesterday morning, where residents recounted the terrifying ordeal.
Paul Grant, a resident and the proprietor of the building, was in his workshop when the fire began. He confirmed that the blaze originated in an apartment previously occupied by his aunt.
Recalling the events, Grant explained that he and his wife had left their home to run errands when they noticed smoke in the distance. “I told my wife we should turn around because the smoke looked like it was coming from our building.”
Upon their return, they found their apartment engulfed in flames. Grant suspects that the fire was caused by a child, who accidentally set a mattress on fire. Within 10 minutes, the fire spread throughout the building, destroying everything in its path. Grant estimated his losses in tools alone to be approximately $5 million.
Monty McClure, a neighbour whose property was also affected, shared his experience with Stabroek News. He was at home when the fire broke out at around 2 pm and was alerted to the situation by a neighbour. Despite efforts to control the fire, the strong winds caused the blaze to spread quickly. McClure’s home sustained significant damage, including melted gutters, pipes, and appliances such as his refrigerator and washing machine.
McClure expressed frustration with the fire service, charging that they were inadequately equipped when they arrived on the scene. “The fire service didn’t have enough water when they got here.” Although he tried to assist in controlling the fire, there was little he could do as the flames rapidly consumed the area.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the incident has left several families displaced and dealing with substantial losses.