Investigations are ongoing into the deadly fire that killed 3-year-old Shameena Hardat and her sister, 9-year-old Anamika Hardat of Belmont Mahaica this afternoon.
According to the Guyana Fire Service, they received a call at 13 hours 07 and were alerted to a fire at the home of the kids. A water tender and crew from the Mahaica Fire Station were immediately dispatched to the location.
Upon arrival at the scene, two jets working from an open water source were used to extinguish the fire.
The building involved was a two-story wooden and concrete building owned by Ayube Mohamed Khan and occupied by 79-year-old Zaman Khan and his family of eleven. As a result of the fire, the building and its contents were destroyed and two children lost their lives.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and investigations are being carried out by the Fire Prevention Department.
The News Desk understands that at the time of the fire, the children were left at home without adult supervision.
While the Guyana Fire Service is saddened over the loss of the two young lives, it continues to advise citizens to exercise caution and follow safety measures to avoid home fires.
Additionally, the Fire Service warned that children should be educated on the dangers of fire starters (matches and lighters) and their use.
Parents are also encouraged to do not leave their children unattended or at home without adult supervision and to keep them away from the cooking area, and away matches and lighters are out of their reach at all times.
Citizens are encouraged to equip their homes with fire prevention and firefighting devices like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers; these will aid in alerting to a fire and putting it out quickly.
