While the Guyana Fire Service is investigating the fire that completely destroyed two buildings, one at Lot 122 B, Bush Lot Village West Coast Berbice just after midnight on Thursday that left seven persons homeless, residents from the area are of the view that if the fire tenders had arrived with water, the fire could have been contained to one building.
The News Desk understands that the fire started on a house where the occupants had recently travelled overseas but the building was being looked after by a son of the owner.
According to persons in the area, the fire service from Onverwagt Village West Coast Berbice was informed of the incident and they dispatched two tenders to the location but arrived on the scene without any water. Given the lack of water source in the area, resident said that ranks had to rely on another fire tender which travelled from Region Six to put out the blaze.
However, when that tender arrived on the scene, the fire had already spread to the second building which houses a 79 year old woman and other relatives.
Relative of the fire victims, Mohamed Isahack, disclosed that his family is now contemplating their next move since they were unable to save anything from the building.
Relative of the fire victims, Mohamed Isahack
The caretaker of the other building that was destroyed, Lallchan Prasad, related that he received a call after 1 this morning informing him of the fire. He said, when he arrived, his mother property was completely engulfed, and the fire tenders were on the scene but could not save the building nor prevent the fire from spreading the nearby building.
Caretaker of the other building that was destroyed, Lallchan Prasad.
When contacted, Divisional Fire Officer, Kirkland Harry provided a different account of what took place. He noted that one fire tender arrived at the location with water supply from the Onverwagt Fire Station and at that point, one of the buildings had already been engulfed. He said the truck went into operation and utilized its tank supply until it finish.
According to Harry, efforts were made to access water from the nearby canal but was unsuccessful and so another truck was dispatched from the New Amsterdam Fire Station in Region Six to assist. He said, “by time the truck get there, the second building already completely destroyed.”
Investigations are ongoing.
