Three left homeless as mid-morning fire guts Diamond EBD home
Addil Rahim’s home has been destroyed by fire
Addil Rahim’s home has been destroyed by fire

A MID-morning fire of unknown origin yesterday gutted the Lot 123 Block Y, Diamond, East Bank Demerara home of Addil Rahim which he shares with his father and his niece, who were not at home at time of the fire.

The ladder which fire fighters used to access the verandah of the home to battle the blaze
The ladder which fire fighters used to access the verandah of the home to battle the blaze

Neighbours who spoke with this newspaper expressed displeasure at the response of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS). One woman said she had first observed smoke emanating from the front room of the upper flat of the building, and had immediately called the GFS; but the person who answered the call mishandled the emergency.

She contended that despite giving the woman full directions to find the house on fire, the fire officer kept repeatedly asking her for directions.

Another woman contended that when the fire tenders arrived on scene, they attempted to pull water from the drain, but that proved futile. She contended that the fire fighters had arrived on scene of a fire without bringing water; but this newspaper was advised by senior Fire Service operatives that tenders never ever go to a fire scene without water.

Persons gathered at the fire scene in significant numbers yesterday
Persons gathered at the fire scene in significant numbers yesterday

Addil Rahim said he was in Georgetown when he received news that his home was on fire. He said the top flat of the building had been occupied by his father, niece and himself since the lower flat was still under construction.

Rahim said his father had occupied the front room but does not really ply in anything, nor was he at home at time of the fire.

Rahim told the Guyana Chronicle that the fire is a total setback for him, since it has consumed a lot of his household appliances.

He said he had also taken a loan from a bank to build the home, and that loan is still being repaid at this time.

Home owner Addil Rahim in discussion with this reporter
Home owner Addil Rahim in discussion with this reporter

When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on scene, the fire was under control and the police were on scene in a significant presence. Personnel from the Guyana Power and Light were also in evidence, as were two fire tenders.

(Leroy Smith)

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