Firefighters given kudos for containing spread as… : Early morning fire devours Waterloo St mechanic shop

GUYANA Fire Service (GFS) ranks yesterday engaged a veritable inferno in a desperate battle to save several buildings on the west half of Waterloo Street, Georgetown when an early morning fire devoured a mechanic shop and seriously threatened to consume the other buildings in close proximity.The fire reportedly started just about 03:30 hrs, and Tajmaul Drepaul, owner of the mechanic shop, said he was at home on the lower East Coast of Demerara when a caller informed him that the business was on fire. By the time he arrived on the scene, the destruction was complete.

Asked if he had any issues with anyone, the man responded in the negative. He said that last Saturday he had noticed that a fire had been set to the back of the business, and he had been forced to spend three hours extinguishing it, since the fire service did not respond to his calls.

He estimated his losses at approximately half-a-million dollars, but said that figure is subject to adjustment since he still has to do an assessment of what exactly were some of the things he had had on the premises.

That fire also scorched at least three buildings and one vehicle which were nearby.
Drepaul told this publication that he does not own the property; rather, it’s his friend’s place, and he has been operating there for the past decade.

There is no registered name to the business, the man related. He also pointed out that he had not been paying a rental to operate his business at the location.

Meanwhile, a doctor who operates a clinic next door said his business suffered extensive water damage and some amount of fire damage, both of which were evident yesterday. Notwithstanding, the doctor praised the Guyana Fire Service for timely response and diligent work, which saved the other buildings that had been threatened by the fire.

He said the GFS came with an adequate amount of water and also used water from the nearby canal to aid in the fire fighting. He tallied his losses as a result of the fire and water damage at just about five million dollars.

The doctor afforded this reporter a walk-through of the facility, which revealed a sheet of water on the lower flooring, while windows were shattered and ceilings were scorched and burnt.

The yard, in the foreground, where the mechanic shop operated; while the damaged doctor’s office can be seen in the distance
The yard, in the foreground, where the mechanic shop operated; while the damaged doctor’s office can be seen in the distance
 Yesterday morning’s fire extensively scorched the left side of this vehicle
Yesterday morning’s fire extensively scorched the left side of this vehicle
Mechanic Tajmaul Drepaul spoke to the Guyana Chronicle yesterday morning
Mechanic Tajmaul Drepaul spoke to the Guyana Chronicle yesterday morning
Some of the broken glass from a window in the doctor’s office can be seen in this Leroy Smith photo
Some of the broken glass from a window in the doctor’s office can be seen in this Leroy Smith photo
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