Four persons are now homeless after a fire destroyed their Corentyne, Berbice home on Monday night.
The occupants of the home – a rice farmer, his wife and two children – were not at home at the time of the blaze.
Reports are the fire started about 19:30h at the Lot 10 Number 45 Village, Corentyne house.
Speaking with Guyana Times, Geragie Parath said the family of four was at a relative’s house 14 villages away when they were alerted that their home was on fire.
She said when they arrived at the scene, the entire building was already engulfed.
She said that after several attempts at calling the Rose Hall outpost, Corriverton and Georgetown Fire Departments, they finally managed to report the incident, but firefighters did not arrive until about an hour after.
Meanwhile, Parath’s father, Arjune, who lives 200 metres away, said when he arrived on the scene, the fire had already consumed both the lower and upper flat.
The 62-year-old farmer related that he also contacted his daughter and was told that they were on their way. Arjune said several villagers informed the Corriverton Fire Department.
The remains of the two-storey building
When the firefighters finally arrived, they were confronted with the wrath of the villagers, forcing the Police to intervene.
By the time the firefighters got into gear, only a part of the frame of the two-storey four-bedroom building was standing.
According to Arjune, with the aid of other persons, they were able to pull a tractor from next to the burning building onto the road. However, a motorbike was burnt in the building.
Meanwhile, Parath said she has lost everything. She related that two days prior to the fire, she purchased a new chair set, which cost $150,000.
The woman said a few months ago she also purchased a new stainless steel refrigerator. She listed household items and machinery worth in excess of $3 million that were destroyed in the fire.
She also noted that her two children, who attend the Number 48 Primary, lost all of their school clothes and books.
The owner of the building resides overseas, and Parath had been living there for the past six years along with her husband.
Meanwhile, the family suspected that the fire may be arson, since they were threatened by a neighbour a few days ago. A report about the threat was made to the Police.
“Is over the coconut tree and the Police say he will come and look at the area and when she find out that I report to the Police she start to cuss and say she gon learn me sense,” Parath added.
The Guyana Fire Service has started its investigation of the fire. Investigators visited the scene and on Tuesday were able to determine that the fire originated in the back of the lower flat.
The forensic fire investigators are expected to revisit the scene. (Andrew Carmichael)
