Investigators are trying to establish the motive for an alleged attempted arson attack on the Palms Geriatric Home located at Brickdam, Georgetown.
Quick response by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) averted what could have been a major catastrophe after a fire erupted early Monday morning.
Reports are that the fire started at about 07:00hrs outside the matron’s office while another was set at the dormitory building.
The Fire Service was immediately summoned and responded promptly; firemen managed to extinguish the blaze before it escalated.
After putting out the flames, an investigation conducted discovered piles of paper at one of the locations where the fire began.
In an interview with another publication, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said the Fire Service responded to a call about the fire around 7:13hrs. He said when fire tenders arrived on the scene, there was a pile of paper at the matron’s building, and ranks suspect that might have caused the fire. Residents and staff were immediately evacuated.
However, while trying to extinguish the fire at the matron’s building, Gentle said someone started another fire at the dormitory’s building. That too was extinguished.
The fire is now being treated as arson, as investigations continue.
The Palms Geriatric Institution facilitates the elderly who can no longer take of themselves or just need a home. The home hosts about 194 in-house elderly residents.
