A West Canje linesman is now homeless after an early morning fire destroyed his house and everything inside, including what he says was nearly two million dollars in savings.
The fire destroyed the house located at Lot 39 Lochador, West Canje, Berbice.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said firefighters responded shortly after 3:00hrs on Wednesday and found the one-flat wooden house fully engulfed. Although the blaze was quickly extinguished, the building and all of its contents were destroyed.
The man, who was asleep at the time, said he awoke to find his house already on fire.
“Yeah… early last night. I got to bed with a cigarette. After the cigarette I threw the cigarette through the window because the window was right by my head… and then I dropped to sleep,” Carl Williams said.
Williams suffered minor burns while escaping. While thankful for life, the man is saddened that years of hard work are now gone.
“I was saving…Close to two million dollars in the mattress… and everything burn up.”
The latest tragedy has been especially painful because, according to the homeowner, it is not the first time he has lost a house to fire.
Williams says he had spent years trying to recover from that earlier setback before disaster struck once again.
Now homeless for a second time, he faces the difficult task of rebuilding his life once again.
He says for now he has nowhere to prepare a meal and is uncertain where he will spend the night.
While the exact cause has not been determined, fire officials believe the blaze may have been started by a lighted cigarette.
Anyone wishing to assist the homeowner with building materials, household items or other donations can contact him on 660-9963.
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