Overheated ceiling fan caused Princes St. fire

Jun 26, 2013 News

The early morning fire, that completely destroyed the interior of a two-storey Princes Street, Lodge house last week, was reported by Fire Chief Marlon Gentle as having been of an electrical nature, where appliances were left on by the tenant in the bottom flat of the building.
According to reports, the woman occupying the bottom flat of the building left her apartment a week before the fire broke out to work in the interior; leaving a ceiling fan, lights and other electrical appliances still plugged into their outlets. The ceiling fan reportedly overheated resulting in the blaze.
According to a source, on the morning of the fire, thick smoke was seen billowing from the building before occupants evacuated the premises.
The source added that it took a while for fire tenders to respond but they were able to save the wooden and concrete structure from total destruction.
Pamela Singh, who resided in the top flat of the home, said that she was awakened by a loud ‘clank’, which she believes was caused by a “blade pitching out of the fan”; and the scent of something burning that was coming from a hole in her floor.
The woman added that when further inspections were made, she realized that her entire apartment was in smoke and decided to awaken her husband, son and daughter.
During a conversation with Kaieteur News yesterday, the distraught woman related that she has desperately been searching for a place of abode but has been unsuccessful.
She added that her career has also been affected since, being a seamstress by profession, she was unable to save her materials.
As for the tenant who occupied the bottom flat of the building, reports are that the woman is aware of the tragedy but denies having played any part in it.