A woman has been taken into custody for setting fire to a home at Roxanne Burnham Gardens in Georgetown – leaving a family of five homeless.
The fire started at around 07:16h on Saturday. Based on reports received, after the Guyana Fire Service received the report, water tenders from the West Ruimveldt and Central Fire Stations were immediately dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, firefighters saw a one-storey wooden-and-concrete building engulfed in flames.
This fire that occurred in Roxanne Burnham Gardens has left a family of five homeless
The building, owned by Aaron Watson, 39, was occupied by himself and four others. As a result of the fire, the building and its contents were destroyed. Officials have confirmed that the purported cause of the fire is a malicious setting by a woman who has subsequently been taken into custody.
The Guyana Fire Service (GPS), in a statement, is reminding citizens that there are harsh penalties attached to arson attacks; and once identified, perpetrators would face the full brunt of the law.
Only a few days ago, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) reported a 22 per cent reduction in fires for 2021.
In this light, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, during his address at the GFS Senior Officers’ Conference, said Guyana is lagging in the area of fire inspection of buildings, especially commercial ones.
He promised there would be an aggressive campaign in this regard, while announcing that Government would distribute 3,000 fireballs to citizens for their homes and businesses.
“Fireballs and smoke detectors, we must give them out free,” the Minister added.
Since Government assumed office, it has made great efforts to modernise the Fire Service. Recently, over 100 fire hydrants were serviced and replaced in Georgetown. Several fire hydrants will shortly be installed in other regions.
