A fire on January 23, 2025, destroyed two homes on William Street, Kitty, leaving three families homeless and one person injured. The blaze, which is believed to have started from a lit six-burner gas stove left unattended, consumed the property of Rawle Welch at Lot 62 William Street and caused severe damage to the home of Julius Browne at Lot 64 William Street.
The Guyana Fire Service received the emergency call at 15:35 hrs, and a team of eight firefighters led by Section Leader Liverpool arrived at 15:43 hrs. Despite their efforts to extinguish the flames using two jets from the tank supply, the first house, measuring approximately 12 by 8 meters, was completely destroyed along with its contents. The fire also significantly damaged the second house, with the first floor completely burned and the ground floor sustaining severe damage.
A total of 15 people were displaced by the fire, including residents of both properties. Among them was Ms. Cecile Welch, aged 62, who suffered first-degree burns to her right hand and foot. Emergency Medical Technicians at the scene provided immediate medical assistance and transported her to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.
The Guyana Fire Service expressed regret over the incident, which has left three families homeless, but acknowledged that it was fortunate no lives were lost. The service is urging the public to take fire safety precautions, such as turning off gas cylinders when not in use, avoiding leaving stoves unattended, and equipping homes with smoke detectors, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers.
