Three persons are now homeless after two separate fires on Saturday night in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The blaze at the Lancaster, Corentyne, Berbice house
The origin of both fires is still unknown. The first fire, which destroyed a two-storey building at Lot 30 Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam, was of an electrical nature.
Azeema Wahab, who lives in the upper flat of the building, said that she had just had a bath when she was alerted that smoke was coming from the lower flat of the building, where her brother lives.
Her brother, Azeem, was not at home at the time.
“When I came downstairs and look, there was a little fire coming from somewhere by where he has his TV,” she explained, adding that neighbours rushed to the home and formed a bucket brigade to extinguish the fire. Their efforts were, however, futile.
“They break my brother’s windows but because of the grill, they couldn’t get in. They try to kick down the door that they couldn’t get it because he has a big lock on the door.”
She said neighbours called the fire department several times but were unsuccessful. According to Wahab, another neighbour called the Central Police Station and was told that someone had called already and the message was passed on to the fire department.
However diligent work by the firefighters was able to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading.
Azeema Wahab being comforted by a neighbour
Meanwhile, as those firefighters were engaged in battling the blaze, firefighters were also in the upper flat of the building spraying water.
Wahab said that after the blaze was contained, firefighters told her that the fire started in the upper flat of the building.
However, she insisted that this could not be so and called neighbours to explain what they saw but was told by the officer in charge that the issue does not concern neighbours.
Azeema then asked two of her neighbours to go into the upper flat to see if they could find a bag in which she had some documents. They returned with three bags which were partly burnt. The zips were all opened. One of the bags had cash and jewellery. However, the woman displayed the bag, which was not burnt to neighbours and the media present.
“When they were trying to break in the downstairs, I ran upstairs and grabbed a bag with all my certificates and after I remembered the bag that I does have my jewellery in I didn’t bring it.”
The woman then called the officer in charge but he said that the firefighters were all unaware of any money or jewellery.
Meanwhile, the Fire Service has launched a full investigation into the issue.
Corentyne fire
Meanwhile, another woman is now homeless after her Lancaster, Corentyne home went up in flames, also on Saturday night. Reports are that Zallyann (only name given) was alone at Lot 13 Lancaster Village when the blaze started.
Eyewitnesses said flames were seen coming from the upper flat of the building.
The Fire Service was summoned but by the time they arrived, the building was already gutted.
The second building caught fire as a result of the heat and heavy wind.
The firefighters were able to control and extinguish the fire. However, one of the external walls was severely damaged along with a large quantity of household items. While the fire department is investigating, Zallyann was unable to provide any information to the media.
