Fire near Stabroek Market: Electrical circuit overload suspected as cause of fire – GFS

An electrical circuit overload is suspected to have caused Saturday night’s fire that completely destroyed a building in the vicinity of Croal and Cornhill Streets, near the Stabroek Market in Georgetown. According to an update from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the suspected point of origin was on the south-western side of the building’s top floor, where an overloaded electrical circuit reportedly resulted in arcing and sparking.

The sparks are believed to have ignited nearby combustible materials, allowing the fire to spread throughout the structure. The building was owned by 56-year-old Abdul Arazaar Khan and its ground floor housed a clothing store, while the first and upper floors were used as a private residence. The occupants of the residential section were identified as five Chinese nationals. The latest findings follow the GFS’s initial statement on Sunday that investigations were ongoing to establish the origin and cause of the blaze, which started at about 20:25h on Saturday.

The fire triggered an extensive firefighting operation in the busy commercial district. Three fire tenders initially responded, but upon arrival, firefighters found the building fully engulfed in flames. Three additional fire tenders were subsequently deployed, bringing the total to six, as firefighters worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring buildings.

The operation lasted several hours, the Fire Service said before the fire was brought under control and eventually extinguished. Despite the intensity of the blaze and the building’s location between two commercial properties, firefighters managed to confine the destruction to the building of origin. No injuries were reported.

The fire also affected businesses operating in the neighbouring buildings, including the KFC and Pizza Hut outlets. Beharry Restaurant Holdings Inc, which operates the franchises in Guyana, announced on Sunday that both branches would remain temporarily closed while assessments were conducted to determine the extent of the damage and the restoration work required.

The company said the reopening dates would be communicated once confirmed.

The GFS, meanwhile, commended its firefighters for their response and coordination, while also acknowledging assistance from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Banks DIH during the operation.