Latest update April 3rd, 2026 12:35 AM
Overheated iron caused fire that gutted Parfaite Harmonie home – GFS
The gutted building
Kaieteur News – A fire which gutted a house on Monday morning at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was caused by an electric iron which overheated after it was left plugged in for an extended period of time.
According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the overheated iron resulted in combustible materials igniting which later engulfed the house in flames.
As a result of the fire, 62-year-old Carolyn Jervis, the owner of the building, along with five other family members are now homeless.
The GFS related that at about 06:10hrs on Monday, nine firefighters from the La Grange Fire Station, were dispatched to a wooden and concrete two-storey building at Lot 323 Recht-Door-Zee, La Parfaite Harmonie, WBD, after receiving information about a fire.
“Water Tender #111 and Water Carrier #14 were dispatched to the location with 9369 liters of water. The first appliance arrived at 06:22hrs, and the first jet was applied to the fire at 06:23hrs,” the GFS said.
As a result of the fire, the first floor of the building and its contents were destroyed; however, no damage was done to the ground floor. “Two jets from Water Tender #111, in conjunction with one jet from Light Pump #118 via an open water source, were utilised to extinguish the fire,” the Fire Service said.
Safety Tips to follow
Meanwhile, the GFS highlighted several safety tips which it said will prevent electrical fires.
People can regularly check cords for damage, avoid overloading outlets, install and test smoke detectors, keep a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
Householders should also use surge protectors for electronics, keep flammable materials away from appliances, hire professionals for electrical work, promptly replace damaged wiring, use appropriate wattage for light bulbs, unplug appliances when not in use, and choose Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS)-approved electrical products.
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