Charlestown fire was caused by ‘slack, overheated’ electrical points – GFS

The fire that destroyed a three-storey building in Charlestown on Wednesday evening that left at least 15 homeless was caused by a slack connection to electrical points which caused overheating, according to the Guyana Fire Service on Friday.
In a statement following its investigation, the GFS said this resulted in a breakdown of the installation, leading to arcing and sparking and the subsequent ignition of nearby combustible materials.
The Lot 33 Lyng Street, Charlestown, Georgetown house was occupied by 15 persons, who were all rendered homeless.
Firefighters, fire trucks, water carriers, and ambulances from the Central, West Ruimveldt, Alberttown, Campbellville, and Eccles Fire Stations were all part of the operation to contain and extinguish the blaze and to provide assistance to anyone who suffered injuries as a result.
By the time the fire was extinguished, the building and its contents were destroyed. Also affected by the fire was a building located at Lot 34 Howes Street, Charlestown, which suffered severe damage to a television set, a stereo set, a refrigerator, and a section of the southern internal wall.
Other items, including another TV, a fan, and a quantity of windows and walls, were slightly scorched due to radiated heat from the building of origin.
Two additional buildings, a motor car and a motorcycle were also damaged as a result of radiated heat.
One of the occupants, Odessa Alves, had shared with Guyana Times how in a matter of minutes, the entire three-storey wooden and concrete structure was engulfed in thick smoke.
It was about 18:00h and the woman said she stood at the door, speaking with a friend. Her son first drew her attention to fire emanating from the top flat of the house.
The mother of four said she sprinted up the stairs with two buckets of water, which proved futile in dousing the flames. Realizing that the fire was rapidly spreading, persons called on her to abandon the building and rush to safety. However, she made one final attempt to throw some valuables out the window but even this was pointless.
“I meet at the window to throw stuff out the window but I couldn’t throw nothing. A guy tell me come out the house and I run down from the back,” she recalled.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Fire Service said it will continue its efforts to provide excellent service countrywide and charged Guyanese to implement proper safety measures in their homes.
“Fire safety and prevention involves each citizen, and we are imploring all to be vigilant, practice fire safety, and equip homes with warning devices (smoke detectors and fire alarms) and fire suppression tools (fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguisher balls).”
To prevent electrical fires, the Fire Service urged persons not to not overload outlets, refrain from using illegal connections; desist from putting electrical wires over curtains, underneath rugs or pinning them behind furniture; plug heat-generating appliances directly into an outlet, not into a power strip or extension cord.
Homeowners should also have a licensed electrician review their house’s electrical system every ten years. Small upgrades and safety checks can prevent larger problems.
Laptops and phones should only be charged on hard surfaces, not on beds or sofas. Additionally, charging equipment should be disconnected when devices are fully charged. Overcharging can lead to battery fires. Also, electrical devices and appliances should be unplugged when not in use.