Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 23, 2014 News
Fire said to be electrical in origin on Wednesday morning destroyed a two- storey wood and concrete house and business premises located at Lot 8 Unity Street, De Edward Village, West Bank Berbice leaving a family of five homeless and millions of dollars in losses.
The building which housed an Off Licence Liquor Restaurant was situated next to the Berbice River Bridge.
It was occupied by 68 year- old Vadoomatee Sitaram who lived in the upper flat with her granddaughter Simone Sahadeo, while the bottom flat which housed the liquor restaurant was occupied by her grandson Tameshwar Sahadeo, his wife Reshma, and the couple’s five year -old daughter.
According to the elderly woman, sometime between 07:00 and 07:30 hrs, she and her granddaughter were standing on the stairway when she noticed smoke coming from a corner of the house.
She said she instructed her granddaughter to investigate the origin of the smoke and the girl observed “fire on the wall of the house close to where the main switch and fuse box are located.”
Within minutes the entire room was engulfed in flames as the “fire started to travel on the electrical wires, “according to the woman.
She related that she started to shout for “fire!” and “help!” even as the family dashed for safety, leaving everything behind.
According to Sitaram, the fire continued to travel on the external electrical wires leading to the neighbours’ premises.
Neighbours formed a bucket brigade to help douse the fire, but their best efforts were in vain.
The woman, who stated that she had lived at the premises for most of her life, said that the house was well furnished. She estimates her losses to be around $26M. The house was not insured.
One neighbour, Banmattie Dindayal, said she witnessed the incident and places the blame squarely at the feet of the Guyana Power and Light Company. The woman, who lives two houses away, said she was sweeping her yard when she heard a ‘sparking’ sound. She said she noticed fire on the wire attached to the now destroyed house and immediately began shouting for “fire”.
Residents said that by the time the fire tender from nearby Blairmont Estate arrived, the entire house was almost destroyed. Another fire engine arrived from the New Amsterdam Fire Station after the fire was put out, according to them.
The residents are calling for a full investigation into the origin of the blaze and the affected family is demanding compensation for their losses.
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Apr 19, 2024
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