FIRE of yet unknown origin completely destroyed a dwelling house at Lot 222 Good Intent, West Bank Demerara, yesterday morning, leaving losses estimated at $20M.

The burnt-out house at Good Intent, West Bank Demerara yesterday.

Caretaker of the building, Mohamed Inshan told reporters he received a telephone call about it around midnight Thursday and he arrived on the scene to see the entire place engulfed in flames.

He said the neighbours reported that the blaze started in the lower level garage area and everything, including a new ‘NZE’ motor car was consumed.

Inshan said the property belonged to his son and his wife, who are both overseas and are in the process of securing a flight to return here.

Inshan said the house was constructed in March 2009 and everything inside was new but his son, Asif Inshan and his wife left Guyana on January 15, 2010.

The older Inshan said this is the second such disaster the family has suffered in recent years, after the vehicle that he won at the January 2007 Car and Bike show was stolen and found burnt at Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara.

He said no one was ever charged for the crime and, this time, the family is most upset because they believe the yesterday morning conflagration was due to arson.

“We feel fed up and angry and want to migrate,” Inshan said.

A neighbour, Nalini Latchana told the media she was in bed and, when she heard loud noises and lots of crackling sounds, she got up and saw the out of control flames.

She said, within minutes, the inside of the house was reduced to a pile of rubble but the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) doused the embers after nothing else could be done to save the property.