–  loss estimated to run into tens of millions of dollars
THE factory in which Roma mosquito coils are made, at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was gutted by fire yesterday. The place, from where ‘Fish’ brand insect spray is also wholesaled, also houses a store room  and offices.
There was a virtual stampede, about 14:30 h, as employees fled from the burning building but, fortunately, none of them was hurt.
Although it was too early for the loss to be estimated, those employed there speculated it would run into tens of millions of dollars because, apart from severe damage to a large portion of the structure, manufacturing equipment and huge stores of the insect repellant and mosquito coils were destroyed.
The blaze, reportedly, started in a room in which the merchandise was stored in the upper floor of the two-storey edifice.
Employees, who saw what transpired, recalled that around 13:45 h, some on the bottom floor were throwing the spray returned by customers and classified as bad stock to others upstairs who were catching and storing in a sealed room.
They explained that one of the cans fell back to the ground, hit the concrete and exploded, resulting in a rapid effusion of the gas into the hot room and causing explosions in other stored cans.
As employees hastened to get out, many of them leaving their bags and personal effects behind, the pungent smell emanating from the burning material temporarily filled the air and some of the female staff fainted and had to be hurriedly removed from the scene.
The Guyana Fire service (GFS) was immediately summoned and responded promptly, leading to employees and others witnessing the conflagration commending the firefighters on their performance.
The flames were contained to the main building of the complex but other nearby buildings which stored raw materials had to be doused, using the more than adequate water supply.
Guyana Power & Light (GPL) East Coast Demerara emergency crew arrived and disconnected the electricity wires.
The disaster occurred shortly after Roma Managing Director, Mr. Lewis Kartick left  to keep an appointment elsewhere and just before wages and salaries were about to be paid.
The staff was, however, assured that, despite the circumstances, payments would be made before the end of the working day, from the Pay Office that was not destroyed.
Employees were also expected to be briefed on their employment situation, as word was out that the business had been experiencing a down turn recently.
As firefighters continued their investigations, persons on the scene claimed that the building, approximately 50 years old, had suffered minor destruction late last year, when coconut shells and the straw used to make mosquito coils caught afire.
It is likely that, following yesterday’s occurrence, there could be a severe shortage of  the ‘Fish’ spray and mosquito coils on the local market and, possibly a temporary increase in prices of the two commodities.