Over 100 stalls have been destroyed by a massive fire that engulfed the Charity Market in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
Reports are that the blaze stated at about 19:20h on Thursday. According to the Guyana Fire Service, two of its officers were injured during attempts to control the blaze.
The Charity Market on fire (Photos courtesy of FB users)
This newspaper was told that Region Two Fire Commander Courtney Springer and another rank have been injured. Reports are that one of the officers was attempting to disconnect the power from a Guyana Power and Light pole when he was shocked. He was rushed to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital at Charity in an unresponsive state, but regained consciousness at the hospital.
In a statement issued late on Thursday evening, the Guyana Fire Service said it was working along with the Guyana Police Force to contain the fire. It said two fire tenders were operating at the scene.
“…we also have to report that one of our officers received a mild electrical shock during firefighting activities. He was taken to the hospital and treated. Additionally, another rank was also injured at the scene and required medical attention,” the Fire Service statement read.
This fire comes months after the Parika Market Centre was completely destroyed on February 10 by a raging inferno that devastated its structure with millions of dollars in goods inside. That incident has had a major negative impact on the livelihoods of a large number of vendors.
That mid-afternoon fire had reportedly been started at about 14:30h, after thick black smoke was seen billowing from the structure.
