A FAMILY of eight is now homeless because fire gutted their two-storey house at Lot 25 John and Princes Streets, Georgetown, yesterday morning.
Ingrid Sherrif, who lives in the bottom flat, told the Guyana Chronicle that, while her apartment was minimally damaged, her daughter, who occupied upstairs remains traumatised.
“I didn’t really lose anything and I am not mad about the situation. I have no regrets; it only helps me to be stronger. It opened my eyes and made me realise that I have to be more careful with children around,” the woman declared.
Sherrif said, at the time of the conflagration, she was cooking and heard screaming from above.
It is believed that the blaze started in the back bedroom of the top storey and quickly spread to the other sections of the wooden building.
Sherrif said this is the second time that her daughter, Melissa Taylor, has been in such a situation. Ten years ago, through a previous misfortune, she lost two of her children, daughters.
Taylor, who is the owner of the property, was unable to speak with the media and pronounce on the value of her losses.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle reported that, upon receiving the call, the brigade responded promptly and three units were dispatched.
“When we got there, the fire had already gutted the top flat and our mission was to control the flames and we managed to do that, resulting in minimal damage to the bottom flat,” he said.
One of the male occupants of the house suffered minor burns on his back and was sent to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for medical attention.
While it is believed that the conflagration is of a domestic origin, an investigation has been launched to determine it.
From November 29 to yesterday, several persons have lost their homes after fire engulfed them in different areas across the country.
Yesterday’s incident is the fifth such this week, including at Mon Repos and Liliendaal, on East Coast Demerara; Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice and Bartica.