…children were playing with matches – Fire Service
A fire on Friday afternoon in ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, has claimed the life of a four-year-old boy.
Dead is Junior Anderson of Lot 88, ‘C’ Field, Sophia.
Initial investigations indicate that the blaze which occurred at around 15:59h, was sparked by children playing with matches, which ignited a mattress and quickly spread to other combustible materials in the home.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in a statement on Friday said that Junior lived with his parents, Nigel and Shonnette Anderson, and his three siblings ages 15, 11 and six-year-old in a one-flat wooden and concrete building.
Despite the swift response from the GFS, the building and all its contents were completely destroyed.
The three children were under the supervision of their 16-year-old sibling. The teenager had fallen asleep while the children were playing, but was awakened by one of them who noticed the fire. In a state of panic, she fled the house. The Fire Service was notified and upon arrival, discovered that one child was unaccounted for. After extinguishing the blaze firefighters found the charred remains of the young boy.
In light of this tragedy, the GFS has urged parents and guardians to educate children on the dangers of matches and lighters and to ensure these items are kept out of their reach.
“Do not leave children unattended or at home without adult supervision. Keep children away from the cooking area, and ensure matches and lighters are out of their reach at all times. Remember to equip homes with fire prevention and firefighting devices like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers,” the GFS said on Friday. (G1)
