A FIRE of great magnitude broke out in a chowmein factory at 23 Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara on Saturday night, quickly devouring the facility and ravaging everything in its path.

Within minutes of being detected, it had extended its consuming reach to two nearby residential buildings at Lots 21 and 22, completely reducing both to charcoal and rubble. The house on Lot 22 was burnt flat to the ground and absolutely nothing was saved; but it was a miracle that no one was hurt in the blaze.

At least 12 persons are now homeless from the rampage of that fire. Those homeless are: Sukhrani Somra and her adult son, Kenrick Marks, who resided at Lot 21. The building on Lot 22 was divided into four apartments, hence Naiman Khali, her husband, three children and a grandson who occupied one of the downstairs apartments; as well as Rafena, her husband and their 14-month-old son who occupied the other downstairs apartment, were rendered homeless. The top floor occupants who were equally affected were: Nurse Monette, her husband and son; and a young (unnamed) bachelor who occupied the adjoining apartment.

The buildings in this village are constructed in close proximity to each other, hence it was a miracle that two other buildings cramped on the affected house lots were not consumed in the inferno.
The homes of Robert Hamilton and his wife, who occupy a building at the front half of Lot 22; and the residential property of the owner of the Chowmein factory, whose name was given as Chu, were lucky to escape the conflagration.

The factory was said to have commenced operation last year, but the owner reportedly ‘shut up shop’ about four months ago and left persons occupying the factory, but the residential building remained unoccupied.

Robert Hamilton spoke with the Guyana Chronicle. He recalled that shortly after 23:00 hrs on Saturday night, he suddenly saw a light flash. He said he got out of bed, opened a back window and saw what looked like a ‘huge ball of fire’ in the rear section of the chowmein factory. He immediately alerted the surrounding neighbours then jumped into his car and raced down to the Wales Sugar Estate to summon a fire tender.

The fire tender responded promptly, and within minutes the tender’s hoses were deposited into the koker and the fire-fighting operations commenced. Soon after, another unit (probably from the Central Fire Station in Georgetown) arrived on the scene and got to work, displaying gallant fire-fighting skills.

Even though the three buildings were burnt, residents expressed profound gratitude to the fire-fighters; marvelling that, given the closeness of the building, and the fact that the community was experiencing ‘land breeze’, the fire fighters were yet able to contain the conflagration to the three buildings.
Amidst billowing flames hungrily devouring flimsy and melting roof coverings, and with the occasional explosion of gas cylinders and the sound of tumbling rafters and crumbling concrete walls, it took more that courage on the part of the fire fighters to keep the blaze under control.

From all that was seen of the layout of the neighbourhood when reporters visited, it is evident that it took no less than the application of expert skills, matched with tremendous courage and selfless sacrifice, for the firemen to have contained the blaze to those three buildings, given the paucity of space to manoeuvre around the burning buildings.

When reporters visited, Hamilton, who it both lucky and thankful that his house did not go up in flames, had just returned from church, where he gave a testimony to thank God for sparing his family from that destruction. He contended that the trees in the background, planted on the river embankment, would have helped to break the force of the wind and prevent the fire from spreading more dangerously.

Meanwhile, recounting the harrowing experience, Naiman Khalil, who along with her family has been camping out on only the green grass at the back of the lot, having nothing to eat, said they all have to thank God for spared lives. However, as they brace themselves to spend another night on the cold grass with their children and grandchildren, the pain of loss is evidently intensified.

Naiman recalled that when the fire started and everybody began running helter-skelter to vacate the buildings, the bachelor was in deep slumber in his apartment, and so was not aware that he was under threat of fire. “We had to kick down the door to get him to wake up and get out,” she related.

And Nurse Monette had just returned home from night duties and was also asleep, but her husband whisked her and their baby away to safety.

Rafeena, who also has nowhere to go, yesterday stood under a tree at the back of the yard, pondering her next move. She said that even her money had been burned up, so she can’t buy herself food to eat.

“When we see de fire spreading, we ain’t had time to pick up anything. We had to run fuh we life!” she said.

Sukrani Somra and her son lived on the upper floor of a two-storey wooden building, the front and back walls of which were built of concrete. That building was also reduced to charcoal. They, too, had not managed to save anything. What was not consumed by fire was destroyed with water. Fortunately, they have been able to find temporary shelter at her daughter/granddaughter’s home, about two houses away.

Sukrani who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was yesterday visited by a team of church elders and members, who prayed with them and offered much-needed moral support and words of encouragement and hope.
Unconfirmed reports are that the owner of the factory has been taken into police custody.

(By Shirley Thomas)