– lit stove resulted in East Bank Berbice blaze
After thorough investigations by the Guyana Fire Service to ascertain the cause of the fire that destroyed an
Banmattie John who perished in the Enmore Fire
Enmore, East Coast Demerara, home resulting in death of a pensioner, the Fire Chief has confirmed that the origin was a kerosene lamp.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle in an interview with Guyana Times on Monday said evidence proved that a lit kerosene lamp had caused the fire.
Gentle said it appeared the lamp had fallen off a table and had quickly set the house afire before any help could be rendered the elderly woman.
It is believed the elderly woman who had poor eyesight may have accidentally knocked the lamp off the table.
Banmattie John, 70, perished in the early Sunday morning fire which engulfed the two-storey wooden house she lived in alone at Lot 90 Hope Street, Enmore.
According to reports, the fire started around 02:30h that morning and had quickly spread through the house, trapping the pensioner.
By the time Fire Service arrived the fire had already engulfed the building and nothing could have been done but to out the fire.
John’s daughter, who resides a short distance away, told Guyana Times that she had visited hours before to check that her mother was tucked into bed and everything around the house was in order.
Since the house was without electricity, Lilawattie John, one of the daughters, related that she had lit the kerosene lamp that night since her mother is unable to do so.
She returned home and hours later she received the call informing her of the tragedy.
East Bank Berbice fire
Meanwhile, the fire which destroyed the home of Clyde Riddle and his wife Abigail Riddle on East Bank Berbice had started from a stove being left lit.
Gentle grievingly disclosed this, stating that investigations by the Guyana Fire Service confirmed that the stove was left lit even though the occupants had gone out.
The property went up in flames mid-Sunday morning, resulting in the loss of over $15 million, according to the owners.
Though residents of the area as well as the Fire Service had tirelessly tried to save the building, this trying was futile.
In light of fires that could have been preventable once the necessary precautions were taken, Gentle said persons need to be more cautious since failing to take basic precautions may result in unfortunate events.
He said even though the Fire Service is determined in serving its function, there is only so much it can do since it is only alerted when a fire has already started.
Gentle reiterated the need for vigilance which is the most effective measure in safeguarding one’s property and lives.
