Business owners devastated after losing livelihoods to Sharon’s Mall fire

…cause of fire still unknown

Store owners, on Thursday morning rummaging through the ruins of the Sharon’s Building, have painted a gloomy picture of their future prospects hours after a fire swept through the structure and destroyed everything.
The popular mall, located at the corner of Charlotte and King Streets, was swallowed up in flames on Wednesday evening even as scores of firefighters battled the blaze through thick smoke that permeated throughout the four floors.
When Guyana Times returned to the scene on Thursday, fire tenders were still on site as smoke continued to emanate from the second floor. What survived was just a steel skeleton and piles of debris, representing goods that were destroyed either by the flames or water.

Nevertheless, the owners of affected enterprises continued to scavenge through their stores in hopes of finding whatever little remained. Some were visibly distraught at the magnitude of the devastation which had sacked their investments.
Pondering on her next move, proprietor of the Epic Stationery and General Marketing, Dawn Blackman, who had been operating on the ground floor for over four years, said her sister had arrived before the fire had spiralled out of control, and she could have saved her stocks, but was prevented from entering the building.
However, when she herself arrived, “I was able to run in and get out my two printers that were at the top. I was able to lift that out. When I was going back in, I started to stifle and the smoke started to take over the downstairs, so I couldn’t get back in.”
Devastated, the woman told this publication that she is yet to accurately assess her losses, but those are estimated in the vicinity of $4 million. She is contending that had persons been allowed to remove their items earlier, their losses would have been less.
“Just the Monday I brought in stocks. Yesterday I brought in the last set. If you look at the pens on the counter, one dozen is $5,500 and you have 12 in one box. I also bought ink. One small ink is $3,500. It’s small items, but it has value.”
Nadira Jaikaran of Nadira’s Fashion declared it is difficult to overcome her loss, especially since her business was not insured. The single mother shared that she had invested in items for Mother’s Day, all of which are now destroyed.
“All my money! When the smoke started coming, I was in there, and the security tell me run. I couldn’t get to close my shutter. I just leave the padlock and just pick up my bag and out. I come out and said, ‘Oh my God, I’m losing everything!’ I don’t have any money, I don’t have anything; everything is gone!
“I’m so stressed, and my store is not insured. Only yesterday I stocked my store for Mother’s Day. It’s really hard, because I’m a single parent and I have to work for my own,” Jaikaran voiced.
Natasha Rafferty had another distressing story. The owner of Step in Style Boutique, she had moved into the mall just two months ago, after injecting all of her savings into the business.
Recalling that dreadful day, Rafferty said one explosion took down the entire complex.
“We heard an explosion, and the whole building caught fire. Everything is gone with the fire and water. We have just been here for two months, so we built brand new cupboards and countertops and put in three to four million. Everything we had we invested. It’s exactly two months since we came in and stock up,” she explained.
On that fateful day, the fire was reported to the Central Fire Station just after 17:00h. Firefighters responded immediately, but when they arrived, the third and fourth floors of the building were already engulfed in thick smoke, and persons were ordered to evacuate the building. Some business owners were however reluctant to do so, as they insisted on going back inside to save their belongings.
The ravaging fire quickly spread through various parts of the structure, the resultant heat sending nearby power lines sparking. Within seconds, glass windows on the building shattered and fell to the ground, while burnt materials from the building blew into the air, sending persons, even firefighters, running for cover.
The Home Affairs Ministry, in a statement on Thursday, said a detailed fire report will ultimately determine the true cause of the fire and loss of the building.
Further, it noted the need for the installation of smoke detectors, fire alarms, extinguishers and other fire appliances on buildings.
“Importantly, for buildings over two storeys high, the Ministry again wishes to advise of the need for Riser Mains with hoses and Fire Sprinkler Systems to be installed…Building inspections for electrical and fire safety compliance are mandatory for such buildings, and must be diligently pursued,” the Ministry has said. (G12)