Three persons are now homeless after an early morning fire on Sunday destroyed the upper flat of their two-storey house located at Reliance Settlement, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The house went up in flames just after midnight on Sunday. At the time of the fire, the house was occupied by Omesh Persaud, his wife and their 10-month-old child.
Police said Persaud was at home with his wife and child when he realised the house was on fire.
Persaud told this publication that he had also contacted the New Amsterdam Fire Service but by the time the firefighters arrived, the fire was already extinguished. This was after neighbours formed a bucket brigade to douse the flames.
Persaud related that he came out of the bedroom to get baby food and noticed flames on the cradle.
While an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, Persaud believes it is electrical in origin.
“The firemen say it look like the TV cause it.”
He said the television was plugged in but turned off since they were in bed at the time.
“The fuse box and wiring is old – is a old system fuse box.”
Persaud, who is a sales assistant, will take his family to live with his grandmother since they cannot use the building as a home in its current state. (G4)
