Fiery weekend: 4 homes devastated leaving several homeless

Over the weekend, a series of suspected arson has left several homeless along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and in the mining town of Linden.
According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), two houses in Mahaica, on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) were maliciously set alight on Saturday evening, thus rendering three individuals homeless.
The first incident occurred at about 23:45h at Mosquito Hall, Unity, ECD, where a two-storey wooden building was set alight. The property that was owned by popular Tic-Tok dancer, Kubram Ramlall also known as “Rekha” was completely destroyed. At the time of the fire, Ramlall was the only occupant of the house.
The fire reportedly spread to a nearby wooden one-storey house in the same yard, which quickly engulfed in flames. This resulted in Shirley Pitambar and Desmond Randall, who were occupying the building, making alternative living arrangements.
Although fire tenders from the Mahaica Fire Station arrived at the scene, the firefighters were unable to save the building.

Fire officials are investigating another act of arson, this time at Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, where an abandoned building was set alight. Guyana Times understands that the owner of the building died several years ago and after some time, persons would frequent the property.
Ranks of Division 10 have also launched an investigation into the fire which severely damaged the first floor of the building.
Further, the GFS stated that another fire, this time at Mon Repos Squatting Area, ECD, was detected at about 4:19h on Sunday. This fire of unknown origin completed destroyed a one-flat wooden building, thus leaving its owner, Kevin Mohamed, displaced.
These fires occurred less than 24 hours after another house at Mon Repos, ECD, was destroyed. The house at the time was occupied by Haemattie Mangal and her two sons.
These tragic incidents add to the growing number of fires in 2023, with Fire Chief Gregory Wickham revealing that the Guyana Fire Service has responded to 1347 fires, nearly double the previous year’s figure of 771. Tragically, 42 lives have been lost in these fires, including 20 children in the Mahdia blaze. Wickham attributed most of these fires to malicious intent, negligence, and electrical issues.
In this light, the Guyana Fire Service has also emphasised the importance of community awareness and preventive measures to mitigate arson and fire-related risks. With an annual response to arson attacks and fires ignited by grass or rubbish, they stress the potential for significant financial loss and endangerment of lives when properties are targeted.
To reduce such risks, the GFS recommends installing security and fire alarm systems, fire prevention devices, and surveillance equipment, along with maintaining adequate fencing and limiting public access.
Additionally, keeping the surroundings clean, disposing of flammable waste responsibly, maintaining visibility of the property, locking doors and windows, and involving the community in vigilant monitoring are all crucial steps to safeguard against arson and fires, especially during dry seasons.