Massive fire destroys 401 Furniture bond at Mon Repos

Millions of dollars in furniture and other stock were destroyed on Thursday afternoon after a massive fire completely gutted a bond used by the popular 401 Furniture Store at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
The blaze, which started at around 13:00h, prompted a swift response from the Guyana Fire Service. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours, but the building and its contents were completely destroyed.

Owners of the business said they were alerted to the fire shortly after it started. Losses are estimated to be in the millions, especially since a container filled with furniture and mattresses had only recently been placed at the facility earlier this week.
Businessman Nazim Khan said while an exact figure has not yet been determined, the losses are substantial.
“We can’t give an exact estimate right now, but we know it runs into the millions. There was a lot of stock inside, including furniture and imported mattresses,” Khan said.
Khan explained that workers had been sent to the bond to clean the premises when they reportedly discovered a beehive. He believes the fire may have started after the workers attempted to destroy the hive.
“I think some of the workers went there to clean up after the holidays and saw a beehive. They tried to light it to smoke it out, but the branches were dry, and the fire got out of control. They didn’t realise how fast it would spread. I received the call around 1:19 pm, so I believe it started just after 1 o’clock,” Khan explained.
Meanwhile, Khan’s wife, Saudia, said this was not the first time a fire had occurred on the property. She noted that previous owners had also experienced fires at the same location, though under different circumstances.
“We were told there were fires there before – one was electrical, another happened during a blackout when candles were being used, and another involved a kerosene stove,” she said.
No injuries were reported in Thursday’s fire.
The Guyana Fire Service has since launched an investigation.