River View fire caused by child playing with matches – GFS

The Guyana Fire Service on Wednesday said the fire which occurred on Monday at Lot 7C River View, Ruimveldt, Georgetown was caused by a child playing with matches.
On Wednesday, the Fire Service said it received a call at 15:12h on January 2, and was alerted to a fire at Lot 7C River View, Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Water tenders from the Central, West Ruimveldt and Alberttown Fire Stations were immediately dispatched to the location.

The structure involved was a two-storey wooden-and-concrete building owned by Gavin Joseph, who occupied the building along with 11 others. Despite firefighters’ best efforts, the building and its contents were destroyed, leaving 12 persons homeless.
Following investigations, the GFS said, it was discovered that the fire was the result of a child left unattended playing with matches. The child lit the match and the flames came into contact with, and ignited, a chair cushion.
Three other buildings were also affected by the inferno, with the first one, located at Lot 6 River View, suffering severe damage to the southern external walls and the loss of a quantity of louvre panes. Additionally, three solar lights, one camera, four sash windows, 10 metres of roof rafters, 50 drink cases, and 30 water bottles were destroyed at another building located at Lot 8 River View, Ruimveldt, the GPF added.
Also affected was a two-storey wooden-and-concrete building located at Lot 4529 River View, where five sash windows, 16 metres of PVC guttering, one antenna and two water tanks were severely damaged, while one pressure tank and one water pump were slightly damaged.
According to the Fire Service, due to the magnitude of the fire, a sub-officer who is attached to the Central Fire Station was injured during firefighting.
Three jets working from tank supply were used to extinguish the fire.
The Guyana Fire Service has issued many warnings and advisories about the dangers of fires. “Citizens are once again reminded to exercise caution, and to ensure children understand the seriousness of playing with matches and other fire starters, in order to avoid these tragedies and preserve life and property,” the GPF said on Wednesday.