See full statement from Guyana Fire Service:
A fire completely destroyed the home of Anika Hamy, a 22-year-old unemployed female of Wismar Linden, which occurred at about 19:30 hrs last evening.
Investigations revealed that the victim lived in a one-flat wooden structure measuring approximately 18ft X 12ft. She was residing there with her 27-year-old husband and two daughters (one-year-old and two-year-old).
There was a curtain which had separated the kitchen from the bedroom. On the date and time mentioned above, Anika was at home with her two children. While the children were playing in the living room, she went into the kitchen to fry eggs for their dinner.
She was cooking on a kerosene stove, resting on an old gas stove. She lit the kero stove, and as she was about to fry the eggs, the stove fell to the floor; simultaneously, the oil and the fire from the stove quickly spread across the floor.
The one-year-old child (Aziza Albert) immediately ran towards her mother, and by doing so, she ran into the fire. She received severe burn injuries. However, Anika managed to take her two children out of the house for safety, and she immediately raised an alarm. A few neighbours formed a bucket brigade and attempted to out the fire, while the others stood and made video recordings with their cellphones.
Nonetheless, the Fire Service was summoned, and in a short while, Fire Tender # 99, Commanded by Leading Fireman Lovell and a crew of five, arrived and went into action and put out the fire. However, the entire house was razed to the ground.
Aziza Albert was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex, where she received medical attention for second and third-degree burns. Aziza Albert was later transferred from the Linden Hospital Complex to the GPHC, and at approximately 23:00 hrs last night (2023-10-24), she died while receiving treatment.
The body was escorted back to Linden and is currently lying at Pensioner’s Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.
