Five persons were on Friday afternoon rendered homeless after a fire suspected to be electrical in origin completely razed their home at Clifton Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice.
According to reports received, the fire started at about 11:30h just above the Guyana Power and Light meter that is installed at the house that is being rented by a taxi driver/mechanic and his family.
Troy Elias and his family have been occupying the Lot 202 Clifton Settlement home for the past three years. At the time of the fire, the man’s wife and three children – aged 3 to 8 months old – were at home.
When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, the entire wooden one-storey structure was already completely gutted.
The distressed mechanic explained that only recently they experienced power shortages and as such, he would instruct his wife to unplug all electrical appliances when they are not in use. At the time of the fire, he noted that nothing was plugged into any electrical outlet.
According to the taxi driver, when he arrived at the scene, the building was engulfed. Reports are that after the fire was initially seen, it quickly spread into the building; firstly, igniting the curtains.
Elias explained that he was unable to save any household items. For the taxi driver, the days ahead will be difficult since his daughter is expected to start school at the beginning of the new school term.
