East La Penitence house goes up in flames

…4 homeless

A family of four was forced to make alternative living arrangements after a fire of unknown origin destroyed their Morocot, East La Penitence, Georgetown home. Among the four persons are two minors and two pensioners.
The fire reportedly started in one of the bedrooms of the Lot 31 “A” Morocot Square two-storey house at around 13:30h on Friday.
Reports are the owner of the house, 69-year-old Kennette Herbert, a security officer, was asleep at the time of the fire while his two grandchildren, ages 12 and eight, were left playing in the house.

The burnt house

The fire was detected by a neighbour who was passing at the time. The woman recalled that as she walked through the yard, she saw thick black smoke billowing from one of the rooms and quickly raised an alarm.
In doing so, she called out to the child to inform their grandfather but did not realise that the elderly man was asleep. The elderly man told media operatives that after his grandchildren woke him, he realised one of the bedrooms was on fire.
Without hesitation, he attempted to extinguish the blaze but it rapidly spread, and as such, he had to retreat. He frantically looked for his two grandchildren and could not find them but soon after realised they were in the yard, he exited that building.
He along with his two grandchildren stood in anguish as the house went up in flames.
The fire service was summoned but by the time firemen arrived, the house was consumed by fire leaving no chance for family members to save any household items or even personal belongings.
Soon after, the wife of the elderly man arrived at the scene but upon realising that her house was destroyed, she fainted and had to be consoled by neighbours. After some time, she told media operatives that this is the second tragedy for the family in two years.
Only two years ago, one of the elderly couple’s sons was shot and killed. Meanwhile, it unclear how the fire started but an investigation launched by the fire officials.