Fire ravages supermarket, other buildings on Saffon St block

…5 Chinese nationals rescued during blaze

Firefighters on Saturday exhausted hours trying to contain a rampant fire that started at a supermarket on Saffon and Sussex Streets in Georgetown – a calamity which also saw ruins to other establishments on the block.
Reports of the fire at the property located opposite the La Penitence market were sounded to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) at about 02:26h. However, the recently opened supermarket did not stand a chance against the herculean flames.
Responding to the scene were six water tenders, one hydraulic platform, one fire boat, and a hose layer from the Central, Alberttown, Campbellville, West Ruimveldt, Eccles, and Fire Service Headquarters.

As firefighters braved the heat and smoke to quell the inferno, they also managed to rescue five Chinese nationals who were trapped inside the building. Three of them were sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation, along with one of the firefighters.
By then, the two-storey building was completely destroyed. According to eyewitnesses, the upper flat first collapsed while the second was completely charred. At least two other wooden buildings along Saffon Street towards James Street were also burnt.

In a statement, the Guyana Fire Service said it managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the market and nearby buildings located to the south and east of the building of origin. Due to the extent of the fire, several key streets were blocked off.

Reignited
However, hours after, at about 10:45h on Saturday, there were still pockets of fire, which reignited a wooden section of the structure. When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, three fire tenders were already activated.
“While combing the debris, it was discovered that there were still small pockets of fire in the building. The fire did reignite on a wooden part of the supermarket briefly but firefighters managed to douse it,” the GFS updated, noting that officers never left the scene until it was completely extinguished.
A bystander relayed that he saw a small smoke in the morning but within a short time, it grew significantly.
“After I see a little smoke, it start getting more big…When the fire start [on Saturday morning], like I see it start from the roof [of the supermarket] and then it just start spreading coming down,” he described.
“This was a big big fire. I didn’t think it would start back because up to this morning (Saturday) when I come, they had it under control,” a security guard commented.
Placing their efforts in preventing a spread, firefighters managed to enter the remains of the supermarket and quell the fire from within.
This publication understands that millions of dollars have been lost in damages. It is not confirmed if the buildings were insured. The GFS is continuing its investigation into the cause and origin of the fire. (G12)