The family of the baby girl who died in a fire at Sophia is seeking help from the government or anyone for food supplies as well as items to rebuild their home.
Eleven-month-old toddler, Melveena Angel Blair perished in the November 16 blaze while her brother two-year-old Carlos Blair suffered severe burns about his body
According to reports, three of four siblings were left home unattended and the fire was ignited by children playing with matches at their Cummings Park abode.
The children’s grandmother, Diana Rudder, of Lot 24 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, a self-employed worker, told Stabroek News that since the fire the children’s father, her son, Carl Blair, 33, lives with his grandmother in the front house while his two boys reside with her at the back house in the same community. The mother, she explained, lives with her family somewhere in the West Ruimveldt community because her place is small and could not accommodate everyone. She related that apart from caring for the two boys, she has a daughter she cares for and her income is not stable.
The woman disclosed that her son’s family is not doing well because they are poor people trying to make ends meet and after the fire, they were left with nothing. “They don’t have clothes, they don’t have food; they don’t have anything.” Her son, she said, would like to rebuild the home but he would like help from the government or anybody, to have his home rebuilt. They also need assistance with food items for the children.
On Wednesday, with financial support from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, and other family members, she managed to cremate baby Melveena. She relayed that Carlos is in a stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital following the burns he suffered to his back, hand and face; almost his whole body. The father she says, was recently admitted in the hospital to donate tissue for his son’s skin graft.
So far, her son is not working but before the fire, both her daughter-in-law and her son were working about five houses away from their home, cooking dog food. “The money was not much but they were trying with it.” She added that the headmistress of the school where two of the sons attend, promised to help them with whatever funds they raise.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in a release said that five persons have been left homeless by the fire.
The fire, which erupted around 11:18 am, left the baby’s mother Tineisha Israel, 34, father, Carl Blair, and siblings Carl Blair Jr (age 6), Carlton Blair (age 4), and Carlos Blair (age 2), homeless. One sibling suffered third-degree burns and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for urgent treatment.
The flames consumed the small wooden structure, completely destroying the building and its contents. The Guyana Fire Service and an ambulance responded to the scene with a crew of 25 personnel, including 15 firefighters. Despite the swift action of neighbours, who formed a bucket brigade in an attempt to extinguish the blaze, the fire spread rapidly, leaving little time for the occupants to escape.
Initial investigations by the Guyana Fire Service, revealed that the fire was accidentally ignited by children playing with matches, which came into contact with nearby combustible materials. It was also revealed that no adult was present in the home at the time of the fire. The mother was working five houses away, leaving the children unsupervised when the fire broke out.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, visited the scene of the fire, where he met with family members and police officers of the Turkeyen Police Station to discuss the incident and extend his support. Benn, along with Chief Fire Officer Wickham and the firefighters, expressed sorrow over the tragic loss of life.
Additionally, the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, and personnel from her office visited the scene and offered assistance to the family.
