4 homeless after Corentyne house goes up in flames

A fire, suspected to be electrical in origin, has completely gutted a dwelling house at Number 57 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, on Sunday. The house was occupied by four persons including two minors.

Based on reports received, the fire started in the upper flat of the two storey wooden and concrete building at about 11:00h. At the time, Marcia Courtland and her daughter were at home.
They were reportedly attending to a GWI meter reader in the yard when the woman saw thick black smoke emanating from the back of the top flat of the property.
She immediately raised an alert and called the fire service, however, by the time they arrived some 45 minutes later, the house was completely gutted.
All of her possessions were destroyed in the fire. “We try to go back in to save but couldn’t, the smoke was too much. TV, fridge, documents, everything gone,” Courtland said.
She said all she was able to save were a few pieces of clothing that were outside on a line at the time. Her son and husband were at work at the time of the fire.
The distraught Courtland said she is now left contemplating her next move. “I ain’t know what to do. I don’t know as yet what we will do. Right now I have to go and ask someone to spend the night until I figure something out,” she said.
This publication understands that the house has been experiencing some issues with the electricity connection. With the help of public-spirited citizens, she was able to salvage some household items.