Ms Vilene Mc Cloud and five of her children

Ms Mc Cloud said six of her children, aged four to 12 years, were at home sleeping when the fire started.

According to Mc Cloud, who was in tears while talking to the Guyana Chronicle, she dashed out of bed after feeling the intense heat and crackling sound of the fire and rushed to the bedroom her children were in and quickly dragged them to safety.

She said a nine-year-old son, Anthony, was missing and she tried to get back in the house for him, but the fire had already spread in the entire building. So she started to shout for him and suddenly he emerged from some bushes.

Anthony told the Chronicle he awoke feeling the heat of the fire and jumped through a window to safety.

Ms Mc Cloud said she worked hard to build her three bedroom house all by herself, and it was heart-breaking to watch all her hard labour disappear within minutes.

Officers of the Anna Regina Fire Station and Police visited the scene of the fire and are currently investigating its origin.