Seven persons are now homeless after a fire completely gutted their house in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), on Sunday evening. The two-storey concrete home of 39-year-old Jennel Campbell, situated at Second Alley Hillfoot, Wismar, Linden, went up in flames at about 22:00h.
The Second Alley Hillfoot, Wismar, Linden home on fire
Her 22-year-old mentally challenged son has since been taken into Police custody where he is said to be assisting with the investigation.
The woman’s shop, which is situated at the front of the home, was undamaged, however, the family was unable to save any household or personal items. This newspaper was told that the 22-year-old and family members had a disagreement earlier in the day, which caused Campbell to sleep in her shop. The woman told Police that she heard a loud explosion and observed the lights of the house flickering. Shortly after she heard the cries of “fire” and upon checking, she observed that her house was on fire. She managed to escape from the shop. The woman’s son was reportedly seen exiting through a window by neighbours. According to residents in the area, firefighters responded to the scene some one and a half hours later. By then, they noted, the house was already devoured by the fire. Speaking with this publication, Campbell estimated her losses at close to $25 million.
“It’s a upstairs, downstairs house that had everything inside…We ain’t get to save nothing…everything I lost. We ain’t get to save nothing, nothing… I was inside the shop…”, the woman related in between tears.
The damaged house
She said she took her mentally unstable son to the hospital earlier in the day where he received his medication. This, she explained, she thought would have assisted him in remaining calm, however, she noted that with the advice of his father, she decided to restrain him. Campbell noted that her nephew, who also resided at the home, went out, leaving only the females inside the house. She related that her son became agitated, causing the women, who became fearful at this time, to lock up in their rooms and she retired to the shop. She said she has been trying to receive necessary assistance from the authorities in taking care of her son to no avail.
“My son is mentally ill…You calling the police, nobody ain’t helping, you call he father he ain’t coming, he said he send the police. The police ain’t come, the police come after the fire,” Campbell said.
She related that her son left the house after an argument with family members, adding that when he returned, she heard him calling for her but she did not answer.
Campbell said the house, which is situated on highland may have also posed some difficulty in relation to accessibility.
“It ain’t easy, and especially at this time too. I feeling it with the losses and still, I have to feel it with my son. You would call for help, you would reach at the hospital and you know you can’t handle the situation and they ain’t got nowhere to put he… People’s life in fear…”, Campbell stressed.
Persons who are desirous of helping the family can contact them on telephone number (592) 638-1722.
