A two-storey wooden house at Lot 22 Diamond School Street, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was destroyed on Sunday, leaving 10 persons including four minors homeless.
One of the occupants, 35-year-old Rosanna Jairam, a housewife and mother of four, related that she had been renting the upper flat of the house for approximately one year while the lower flat was occupied by a man, his mother, and three other persons.
However, on the day in question at about 11:30h, Jairam was alerted by family members about the fire and they quickly evacuated the premises.
Within moments, the woman said the entire house was engulfed in flames, leaving no chances for salvage or rescue efforts.
Jairam revealed that the fire originated in the bottom flat, shortly after a heated argument between one of the tenants and his mother.
She further disclosed that during her tenancy, she had been compelled to contact the Police multiple times due to threats made by the said individual, who had previously threatened to set fire to the house during disputes with his mother.
“The man smokes and he is an alcoholic. Every time they argue he always says he will burn down the house. I had to call 911 and the Police came and warned the mother to get him out of the yard and take him to the hospital if he has a mental problem,” she said.
The blaze, fanned by strong winds, spread quickly, leaving the firefighters with a formidable challenge upon arrival. Despite their valiant efforts, the fire could not be contained in time to save the house from complete destruction. The intensity of the flames left nothing but charred remnants.
The displaced families are now facing the daunting prospect of finding alternative accommodations, as they have lost their homes, belongings, and cherished memories in the fire.
“I lost everything and I have nowhere to go. Even my children’s school things that I just bought with the money from the Ministry, everything gone. Being in this position with four children is hard, with nowhere to go. I don’t know what to do and I need help,” she said.
Jairam is appealing to anyone willing to help her family to contact her on 674-6019. Meanwhile, the investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing.
