5 homeless after Corentyne fire

Five persons are now homeless after a fire destroyed their home at Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, on Wednesday evening.
Reports are that the fire started on the upper flat of the two storied building around 20:30h; it is believed to be electrical in nature. A middle-aged couple, their daughter and her two children occupy the home.

The family now left destitute as a result of the fire that ravaged their home
The family now left destitute as a result of the fire that ravaged their home

At the time of the blaze, one of the couple’s sons was visiting. According to Seekumari Dauroop, 58, they were all under the house when the flames were seen in the upper part of the building through the floor.
“Me hear like something ah crack… an so me sent up mi son fo see wha going on and when he go up he say, ‘Mummy! Mummy fire!’ when he come down, he get two bucket water but that couldn’t do nothing so we ent save nothing,” a tearful Seekumari said.
Her husband, Ramcharran, 63, estimated his losses in excess of $3 million. He said the home was equipped with two furnished sitting rooms, three bedrooms. A generator, washing machine, three gas stoves, refrigerator and a music system were a few of the items destroyed.
His daughter Gashmarie said the fire started in the middle bedroom in the vicinity of where the fuse box and main switch are. She explained that it was moments after the fire started, it was discovered but they could save nothing.
According to a source from the Skeldon Fire Service, they responded with one unit and encountered difficulty sourcing water because of the current dry weather. The source said the water they arrived with was inadequate since the fire had engulfed to building when they arrived.
Meanwhile, the family is currently being rescued by a neighbour. The Dauroop’s have been renting the building for the past three months and estimate damages in the vicinity of $3 million.
So far this year, 38 buildings have been destroyed by fire in Berbice compared with 24 for the corresponding period last year.
Currently, the Guyana Fire Service is observing Fire Prevention Week under the theme, ‘“Fire Safety, a National Priority – Get Involved’.
In Berbice, firefighters operating out of fire stations at New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Corriverton and Onverwagt have so far responded to 273 fire calls as compared to 255 for the corresponding period last year.
Fires this year have so far claimed the lives of two persons on Berbice, a similar number for the corresponding period last year.