The burnt out building at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown
Eight persons including the 72-year-old owner of a Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown house are now homeless after a fire of unknown origin destroyed their home.
Millions of dollars were lost as the family was unable to save anything when the fire broke out at about 15:35h on Monday in the upper flat of the two-storey wooden and concrete building.
Guyana Times understands that Norma Clarke, the owner, and a grandchild were at home at the time of the inferno.
Neighbours reported that they saw flames coming from the upper front of the property and sounded an alarm.
Several residents quickly ran into the scorching property and were able to pull the two occupants to safety.
A bucket brigade was formed while the residents awaited the fire tenders. However, by the time the firefighters arrived on the scene, the property was already up in flames.
Shawn Clarke, the owner’s son who occupies an apartment in the bottom flat of the house, said that he was at work when he received a call from a friend informing him that the house was on fire.
According to Clarke, he rushed to the scene but was left in a dumfounded state when he saw the building completely engulfed.
“Like about 3 o’clock time I got a call that my house was on fire and I came down but by that time the whole house was already on fire so I didn’t get to save anything. Everything was already burn up for me…the fire burned through the flooring and burned the bottom flat of the house,” Clarke revealed.
The bottom flat of the property was divided into two apartments which two families occupied. Both of the apartments were fully furnished.
Clarke told this publication that he was only able to save one speaker of his music set.
The Guyana Fire Service has since launched an investigation.
