A fire broke out at Fireside Suites located on Garnett Street in Kitty yesterday, engulfing the rooftop of the building that housed a storage section for the hotel. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started at around 2:30 pm.
The Guyana Fire Service was alerted with firefighters arriving on the scene some 15 minutes later.
“The first fire tender was on-site within three minutes of receiving the call,” informed Fire Chief Gregory Wickham. “Upon arrival, we observed that the roof of the building was fully engulfed. Two additional tenders were dispatched to assist in combatting the blaze, and together, they managed to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading further.”
Simeon Francis, the proprietor of Fireside Suites, was seen actively participating in efforts to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported among the guests, however, significant damage was sustained on the roof and both sides of the building.
A neighbour on the western side of the hotel reported some minor issues in the aftermath of the incident. “My home is safe, but there are a few pieces of wood and debris that fell from the roof blocking my walkway,” she noted.
Wickham explained that the affected roof section housed a storage unit for the hotel. While the cause of the fire remains undetermined at press time, investigations are underway to ascertain the factors leading to the cause of the fire. He took the opportunity to praise the quick response of the fire-fighting crews and reiterated the importance of community vigilance regarding fire safety. Fireside Suites at 154 Garnett Street opened on January 29, 2022. It is a boutique hotel with 14 self-contained rooms. (Khamisi Slowe)
