Millions in damages incurred as West Canje home goes up in flames

A mid-afternoon fire on Friday at Budhan Housing Scheme, West Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has resulted in millions in damages to the lower section of a two-storey building.
The fire reportedly started at about 13:30h in the lower flat of the home which was occupied by Tamika Roach, her husband and two children.
Roach claimed that she went home at about 13:00h to collect an item and went back out but whilst running some errands, she received a telephone call from her brother indicating that the house was on fire.
“And I didn’t think much of it because I was at home just now and I thought we always get grass fire around the area but then I still acted and I said let me come home and see what it is. By the time I reached home, my whole downstairs and upstairs was in smoke but I couldn’t see anything the fire service was here they had already broken down the door and they started to out the fire. Everything from in my room all my clothes, everything for my son, my vanity, my TV, fan, most of my documents…Everything, the whole ceiling the walls everything, it’s just my daughter’s room just wet but in my room, nothing was saved,” she stated.

The upper flat housed Roach’s mother, nephew, and sister. Both apartments consist of two bedrooms each.
Divisional Fire Officer, Clive McDonald stated that the fire department received the distress call at about 13:20h. He referred to the call as being a running call and said two water tenders and a team of fire fighters were deployed to the area.
“I want to extend thanks to the neighbours who were very alert to inform the fire service. One person had to eventually drive from this scheme to the New Amsterdam Fire Station to make that call because the call was running and would be deemed somebody come in and reported it. So, again I want to extend thanks to the neighbours for being alert, to be able to alert the fire service and also my ranks that went into action immediately because if you look you will notice there that this building is still standing you have to go inside of this building to know if there is a fire and on the ground floor.”
However, a visibly shaken Roach expressed appreciation for the work done by the fire department.

“I am thankful for life. It could have been worse we could have lost the house, and repairs could have been done. I am grateful for the swift action of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS); they really acted fast. They tried to calm the situation. GPL (Guyana Power and Light), the police – everybody was here, the ambulance EMT everybody was here. I am grateful that everybody came, my staff, neighbours… I am grateful for the neighbour who called, because we have good neighbours in this area. Everybody that came out, friends my husband’s friends they’re putting their hands to start cleaning up because I’m shaken but I’m I am thankful,” she said.
Meanwhile, the fire officer is advising members of the public to exercise care and caution when leaving their homes. “Make sure that you turn off electrical appliances and equipment which are not in use.
“Those persons who have been lighting fires to get garbage and other unwanted material, do so in a safe environment and do it in small quantities and avoid doing it in open fields and open lands,” MacDonald said while noting that at the time the department was also attending to a bush fire in East Canje. (Andrew Carmichael)