20 occupants evacuated…
QUICK response by other residents of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, yesterday averted a major disaster when fire broke out in the Ruimveldt Children’s Home and Care Centre.
As a result of the incident, 20 children were displaced and are being housed at a church until their home is ready to resume their accommodation.
Member of the Board of the institution, Ms. Marva Williams told the Guyana Chronicle that the blaze started around 04:00 h in the lower flat of the two-storey building, in the area that is used as the sitting corner.
She is thankful that staff members managed to evacuate their charges with the assistance persons living nearby, who broke through a door.
Fortunately, the flames were contained to that section by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and public-spirited residents who acted quickly.
Williams said the hospice houses children ranging in age from one to 12 years and has 14 staffers, including cooks, counsellors, and care givers.
The institution is supported by citizens and concerned organisations.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said the outbreak was electrical in origin and resulted from a short circuit but why it happened is to be ascertained through further investigations.
He said a passerby saw the lights flickering and raised an alarm before hurriedly evacuating children through exits in the building.
Gentle said three tenders responded to the call.
Meanwhile, he said the conflagration at Fort and Barrack Streets, Kingston, also in the city, that gutted the home of tour operator Frank Singh on Sunday, was electrically triggered.
Gentle said the Government Electrical Inspector is looking at the report and they are yet to make an official pronouncement on it.
He said it began in the living room where there was an entertainment centre and spread throughout the wooden house, during a power outage in the area when Singh was not at home.