A devastating fire, suspected to be electrical in origin ripped through a residence at Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday leaving nine persons displaced.
The fire that destroyed the house at Bladen Hall
The blaze started at about 07:54h at Lot 111 Bladen Hall, Railway Embankment, ECD.
Responding promptly to the distress call, several firefighters, tenders and water bowsers were dis-patched to the scene.
Upon arrival, they observed a single-story wooden structure that was owned by Aubrie Mathew en-gulfed in flames. At the time of the blaze, Mathew, along with eight others were residing at the premis-es.
“The fire, believed to have originated from a faulty electrical connection to a duplex point, swiftly spread throughout the building, resulting in complete devastation of the property and its belongings”, the Fire Service said.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the occupants or the emergency responders.
Despite the ferocity of the flames, firefighters managed to contain the situation and quell the fire using one jet from Water Carrier #16 by 07:59h. The swift and coordinated response from the fire brigade averted further escalation of the catastrophe.
In light of the incident, the fire service has issued a series of safety recommendations to mitigate the risks of electrical fires. They asked residents to ensure electrical safety, it is essential to conduct regular inspections of electrical cords for signs of wear or damage, avoid overloading outlets and power strips, and install surge protectors to safeguard electronic devices.
Additionally, they advised that persons keeping flammable materials away from electrical appliances, seeking professional assistance for any repairs or installations, and promptly replacing damaged or out-dated wiring are crucial practices.
“Ensuring appropriate wattage for light bulbs, unplugging appliances when not in use to mitigate po-tential hazards, and installing and regularly testing smoke detectors are further steps to enhance safety”, they said.
Lastly, they said keeping a fire extinguisher readily accessible and familiarizing oneself with its operation are essential precautions to prevent and mitigate the risks of electrical fires.
