The Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force are investigating a fire that completely destroyed a two-story wooden and concrete building at St Magnalin Street New Amsterdam, Berbice this morning.
The fire claimed the life of 58-year-old Sharon Austin who resides in the upper flat of the building with her two granddaughters. She was trapped in the building and later perished.
Daughter of the deceased, Brenda Johnson who shares the lower flat of the building with her two sons, told reporters that she was awaken by the stomps and screams of her daughters who would usually sleep with their grandmother on the upper flat of building.
She said, she thought someone had broken I.to the house but upon further investigating, she realized that the upper flat of the house was on fire and her sons immediately rushed to rescue their sisters and grandmother.
However, their grandmother got trapped in the burning building.
Johnson disclosed that the Guyana Fire Service which is located a few minutes away from the house was contacted but after they took a while to arrive at the scene, she decided to take a car and visit the fire station.
However, by the time the fire tender arrived at the scene, the entire upper flat of the building was engulfed in flames.
Investigations are ongoing.
