Two fires of unknown origin have razed houses located at Kiskadee Drive, South Ruimveldt Gardens, and C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
Reports are that around 10:30h on Tuesday, Abigail Lynch, an event planner and decorator, and her husband, who occupied the home located at Kiskadee Drive, South Ruimveldt Gardens, with their three children, went out, leaving their three children – six-year-old twin boys and a 15-year-old – at home.
However, at about 14:30h, Lynch said she received a call from her neighbour, informing her of the tragedy and that her children escaped unharmed.
This newspaper was told that firefighters arrived swiftly but to no avail since the building was already engulfed. The woman estimated her losses at about $5 million.
The two houses in Sophia, Greater Georgetown
Meanwhile, just about 15:20h, also on Tuesday, two houses in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, were also destroyed by fire of unknown origin.
Reports are that the families who shared the homes, which included five children and three adults, were all out at the time the fire started.
The owner of one of the houses, 29-year-old Esron France, who occupied the three-bedroom flat along with his 28-year-old wife and their two children, aged six and eight, said that they had all left home to attend a community meeting when the fire occurred.
The house at Kiskadee Drive, South Ruimveldt Gardens
Meanwhile, the other family, 30-year-old Latoya Alexander and her three children, aged one, three and nine, occupied the neighbouring two-bedroom flat.
Along with household appliances, clothing and other personal belongings, the families also lost several pieces of gym equipment, a motorcycle and an electric bike which were in the yard.
The Guyana Fire Service has noted a spike in fires across the country after responding to several incidents over the past week, with five of them occurring last Saturday and another two on Monday.
With these recent fires, this has brought the figure to 16 fires in 2024 already, which has resulted in the death of two persons and over 30 persons homeless.
Fire officials have reassured citizens that they are doing their best to respond to these fires, while asking all to be more aware to help prevent such occurrences.
