Pensioner among 4 homeless after Mon Repos house goes up in flames

A fire suspected to be electrical in origin has completely razed a two-storey wooden building at Lot 294 Fourth Street, Mon Repos Pasture, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday, thus rendering four persons homeless.

Based on reports received, the fire started around 22:30h in a bedroom in the lower flat of the house and quickly engulfed the structure.
The occupants of the house lost all their personal belongings and household items.
As such, they are contemplating their next move. The homeowner, 68-year-old Deopaul Omorow told media operatives that his son alerted him to the smoke emanating from the bedroom.
“I went upstairs sleeping, and my last son went downstairs in a room, and he called for me: ‘Daddy, watch the smoke.’ By the time I come down, there was a fire, and it went off,” Omorow explained.
Upon seeing the fire, the occupants attempted to put out the blaze by forming a bucket brigade, but that proved useless. Owing to the intense heat, those who were putting out the blaze had to retreat.
Another occupant, Kaloutie Samaroo, stated that the fire started from a malfunctioning electrical outlet.

“We put on a light at the side, but my father was warning me because the point is spark fire, but I don’t know if it is because of the plenty of rain make it get more worse. It feels so bad that people have to walk through in the dark, so I put it on, and I told them (Deopaul) we must watch it, and when people to pass, we must take it off,” she noted.
Speaking from the scene, she added, “But before people could pass off and take off the light, the fire started.”
By the time the fire tenders arrived at the scene, the building was completely razed. However, the firefighters managed to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby houses.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire. Persons desirous of helping the family can contact them on +592 220-6922.