THE top flat of a two-storey house at Lot 345 East Street, Georgetown was destroyed yesterday afternoon when fire of an unknown origin ripped through the building following an explosion.

Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Divisional Officer in Charge of Operations, Compton Sparman said they received a call at about 15:03 hrs through the 912 emergency line, reporting that a building was engulfed in flames.

He told reporters at the scene that they saw the fire from the GFS headquarters near the Stabroek Market Square which indicated that the building was well alight, and immediately they dispatched four units, two from Central, one from Campbellville and one from Alberttown.

Sparman said that taking into consideration the dry season and that water is a problem in the area, they did not take any chances and so they entered from Lamaha Street with one unit and commenced firefighting operations.

The senior officer noted that the buildings were in close proximity and many were wooden but the firefighters did a superb job with good planning.

Sparman said, “We fight the fire before it starts, we ensure that the appliances have enough water and once they get a call from certain areas they don’t waste time and their first alarm consists of three appliances but we sent four because of the dry season and the trenches are very low with water.”

He disclosed that the entire top floor was completely destroyed while the ground floor was water soaked but without fire damage. The nearby buildings also got minor damage.

Sparman told reporters they had received word that persons were trapped in the burning building and they dispatched their ambulance but when they got there no one was inside.

He said that an investigation will be launched into the cause of the fire and they will be checking the debris and taking statements from persons to start the process.

Eyewitnesses said they saw thick smoke and fire billowing from the top flat of the house and called the GFS and they arrived within minutes and went into firefighting mode.
They noted that the fire started from the back of the house on the top flat and at that time no one was at home.

A passerby, Sean Noel told reporters that he was driving past when he observed smoke coming from the building and telephoned the GFS and they arrived within minutes and he also assisted.

A neighbour, Curtis Stanley said he was cooking when he heard shouts of fire. He turned off his stove and went out to assist in positioning the fire hoses when he saw the building in front of his house engulfed in flames.

He recalled that the flames got very intense and started to spread to the building at the rear but the firemen did a good job by quickly containing the fire to one building.

Noel Mohabir, who occupied the bottom flat of the house, said he was not at home when the fire started but received a call and showed up but there was nothing he could do.

The building is owned by David John, who reportedly resides overseas, while his sister who could not be located yesterday afternoon occupied the top flat.