Fiery Monday: Houses, Resource Centre gutted by fire

By Leroy Smith

The fires came less than a day after a business complex was completely gutted on Sunday morning at Camp and Robb Streets in the city.

The first for the day was recorded at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo and according to Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle it was deliberate, following a dispute by relatives over the property.

That fire has since rendered five persons homeless. As the firefighters were wrapping up their work at that scene, they had to rush to Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara to contain a blaze there.

Gentle said that initial investigations revealed that the fire was electrical in origin and might have started in the roof of the upper flat of the two storey building.

He confirmed that no one was at home at the time. It was noted that four persons lived in the lower flat of the building while a pensioner, aged 71, lived in the upper flat.

Speaking to iNews, Leonard A. Innis said that he was at the embassy when the fire started and it was only after he returned home at approximately 10:30 hrs that he saw the street filled with people and was informed that his house was on fire.

According to elderly man, the house is owned by his nephew who resides outside of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Fire Service was again called to quell a fire on later in the day at Rosemary Lane, Tiger Bay where a resource centre was gutted.

The Fire Chief believes that it might have been arson, as persons reported seeing someone exiting the building shortly before the fire.

The upper flat of the two storey building was utilized as a church on Sundays and also hosted community related activities by the Guyana Police Force. A section of the lower flat of the building is reportedly occupied by two Custom Brokers.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan was also present at the scene along with Police “A” Division Commander, Clifton Hicken and other senior police ranks.

Meanwhile, even as the firefighters were battling the blaze in Tiger Bay, the Mahaica Fire Station was forced to get into operation and respond to a fire at Melanie Damishana Public Road, East Coast Demerara at a small dwelling place.