Four persons including a toddler are now homeless after a fire of unknown cause completely gutted a Lot E91 North Sophia, Georgetown home on Wednesday.
Reports are the house was occupied by 21-year-old Matthew Gravesande, his
The rubble that followed the fire at North Sophia
one-year-old child, the baby’s mother Yolanda Persaud and his sister, a prison warden. The fire reportedly began at the rear of the home in the room which was occupied by the owner’s prison warden sister.
According to Gravesande, he and his sister had left for work in the morning and about 14:30h he received a call informing him that the one-storied wooden building was on fire.
Guyana Times understand that no one was at home at the time since the baby and his mother had left a few days ago to visit a relative. However, there is another wooden house in the yard that is being occupied by the aunt of Gravesande’s child, Anastasia Persaud-Sharples and her four children. Neighbours who rushed to the scene, recalled seeing smoke emanating from the home and alerted the woman who was at home with two of her four children.
The Fire Service was then informed. Shortly before the firemen responded, nearby residents got into action and formed a bucket brigade to battle the blaze. This publication spoke with several eyewitnesses who related what they had seen.
“The fire was about 2 o’clock time; we see smoke and I just run out because a lil boy thought was a motorbike man revving but when I run out, I see was fire and I run back for me phone,” one of the neighbours who called the Fire Service related.
“My mother live not far from me and she said that is not fire but I said was somebody burning tires but when I get up, you could not even walk here; the fire black, black and could not even walk there – the heat!” a female resident indicated, adding that the entire situation made her nervous.
Meanwhile, Persaud-Staples, the mother of four related that she was scared for the safety of her two children, who were home at the time. She claimed that someone stole her mobile phone while she was busy taking her household items out of the house.
“From when I call, they take lil long. I went and start wet me house and dem boys them start wet the rest,” the woman indicated, referencing the bucket brigade which the residents carried out. By the time the fire fighters arrived, the woman said that the front house was already gutted. She was however thankful that there was no damage to her home. This publication received information that firefighters are puzzled as to how the fire began, since the home had no electricity and no one was present cooking. Two gas bottles were seen at the fire scene; one under the house and the other at the front. (Shemuel Fanfair)
