ECD family evacuates home after neighbour set pile of tyres on fire
A Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) family was on Monday forced to evacuate their home after thick smoke engulfed the house due to a neighbour setting a yard full of tyres on fire.
Charran Sahdeo, 53, and his family of Lot 454 Better Hope, ECD, scampered to evacuate and safeguard their belongings on the roadway after intense flames and thick dark smoke advancing from a landfill of tyres threatened their home.
Sahdeo told this newspaper that the plot of land next to his home was being used by his neighbour, Rahaman Ally, as a dumpsite for used tyres. He related that on Saturday, the tyres were set ablaze by Ally. According to Sahdeo, the Guyana Fire Service was called and they went and put out the blaze. However, on Sunday the fire reignited but this time the family is alleging that when contact was made with the fire service, neighbours were allegedly told by the dispatcher to stop wasting the GFS’ time.
Thick smoke and flames from the burning tyres
However, on Monday at about 07:30h, the situation escalated, forcing Sahdeo to evacuate his family, including two toddlers.
“Saturday, he light a fire here, and like the fire undermine and went till down at the bottom….and every now and then the fire keep coming up. Every time the fire come up, a lot of neighbours plus we does call the fire service…they does take their own time and say they fed-up coming,” he said.
On Monday, a dauntless Sahdeo said himself and neighbours tried to keep the fire under control but were unable to do so.
Some of the burnt out tyres
“When we see the fire start spread this morning (Monday) and coming towards the house, we try to take lil precaution throw lil water, spray lil water, the neighbour at the back all spray lil water….thank God the house ain’t fully catch afire,” he said.
When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, family members and neighbours were seen assisting the affected family to clear all the damaged materials at the home. The intense smoke caused a traffic buildup as commuters were forced to stop or find alternative routes since visibility was poor as a result of the blaze.
Charran Sahdeo
Meanwhile, Police have since taken Ally into custody. An investigation has been launched.
