7 homeless following Old Year’s Day fire in Berbice
Seven persons have been rendered homeless after a fire of unknown origin completely destroyed a two- storey house at 5th Street Tain Settlement, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) on Thursday.
The fire reportedly started at about 15:20h, and at the time of the fire, Amanda Ramotar, 33, and her five children, aged 13, 10, 6, 4 and 1 year old, were at home.
Amanda explained that she was sitting at the bottom flat of the house when she started to smell smoke, and immediately ran into the upper flat of the house, where she saw the flames in the front bedroom.
The aftermath of the fire
The housewife said she returned and grabbed her children and took then to safety.
“I go straight over at the neighbour yard…I lost everything. Two fridges, microwave, washing machine, gas stove, TV – everything…” she bemoaned.
However, after the fire was detected, an alarm was raised and the Fire Service was contacted. One unit from the Rose Hall Town Fire Department and another from the Corriverton Fire Department responded, and were able to curtail the blaze to one location.
Members of the devastated family
Amanda’s husband, 36-year-old Jagdeo Ramotar, a cook, was at work at the time. “I am very sad. I don’t know what next to do,” he said.
The family has been occupying the building for the past nine months. The building is owned by Vinkat Kallimottoo who resides overseas. An investigation has been launched into the devastating fire.
