Firefighters spent more than three hours battling a blaze at the DeSinco Trading building, Sheriff Street, Georgetown, as flames tore through and ultimately destroyed the entire structure.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn watches as a fireman stands on a telescoping boom-ladder
The fire started at about 13:00h on Wednesday. However, despite the fact that several firefighters from the Guyana Fire Service were dispatched to the scene, accessing water was a challenge. By this time, heavy smoke was billowing from the building and the flames threatened nearby buildings. This promoted the call for more fire tenders as those at the scene were unable to contain the blaze. After almost two hours of battling the flames, the fire service finally deployed a truck with a telescoping boom-ladder to enable the firemen to tackle the blaze from overhead. By this time, at least one of the buildings on the property was completely destroyed and the other was also gutted.
Firemen struggling to contain the blaze
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn also went to the scene to render support. Benn told reporters that he visited the scene since he saw dark smoke in a distance from his Brickdam Office for over an hour. Minister Benn contended that “there were too many officers here and nobody was in assertive control”.
The Minister noted that from Wednesday’s operations, there is a need for more/improved training for the firemen. He added that businesses ought to put in place fire sprinkler systems.
Meanwhile, owner of the building, businessman Frank De Aubreu said he was at home when he received the news that the building was on fire, and he immediately rushed to the scene.
“I wasn’t feeling well today (Wednesday), and a worker from Eccles called me and told that there is a fire in Sherriff Street, so I came down to see, and it was bigger than I thought. But there is life and there is hope and I know we will rise again. I wouldn’t let this keep us down…”
The businessman was unable to give an estimate of his losses, but alluded that they amounted to a very “large amount”. De Aubreu said that he is saddened by the incident. He noted that this particular section of the business was managed and controlled by his wife.The blaze completely destroyed the building which housed the company’s supermarket and its storage unit. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Up to press time, firefighters were still at the scene. The cause of the fire is still unknown. (LaWanda McAllister)
The blaze completely destroyed the building which housed the company’s supermarket and its storage unit. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Up to press time, firefighters were still at the scene. The cause of the fire is still unknown. (LaWanda McAllister)
