-arson not ruled out
A fire on Sunday night gutted a pensioner’s house at Ocean View, Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, leaving him and his son homeless.
Essau Ishmael, 67, and Rayman Ishmael, 28, the two occupants of the house, were not at home when the fire struck around 21:00 hours; but quick response from ranks at the nearby Leonora Fire Station and Leonora Police Station resulted in the outer walls of the building being saved, but the interior and all the household items being destroyed.
The blaze was brought under control in about 45 minutes and there was no damage to neighbouring buildings.
The senior Ishmael told this newspaper that he lost all his household items, including a fridge, gas stoves, furniture, television, microwave, and clothing as well. He also had a quantity of cash and his pension book which were engulfed by the flames. He estimates his loss to be in the vicinity of $2.5M.
The cause of the fire is still to be determined, as the police and Fire Service are still continuing their investigations. However, Ishmael told this newspaper that arson could not be ruled out, because shortly before, the fire a visitor, who is a friend of his son, went to the house and apparently lit a kerosene stove.
Ishmael recalled that on Saturday he left home with everything intact at about 18:00 hours for Philadelphia, on the East Bank, to visit an acquaintance; and then on Sunday night, while he has asleep, at about 21:30 hours, he got a call from one of his grandchildren that his house was on fire. He left with a taxi and immediately headed for his house; and on arrival he discovered that everything in the house was destroyed. His son was somewhere in the village  with friends at the time of the fire but arrived shortly after hearing of it.
Asked where he and his son would stay in the meantime, he replied that they may have to resort to relatives. And on whether he would be able to rebuild his home, Ishmael said now that he is a pensioner, he will not be able to do so, and is looking forward to some help from the public or charitable organisations to re-start his home.