FOUR persons are now homeless after fire engulfed their home at Lot 30 Area “D” Ogle, East Coast Demerara, around 11:45hrs yesterday.
The fire is believed to have been electrical in origin, since it began in the area where the meter was. According to Sharda Williams, sister of Parbattie Sukhoo who lived in the house with her three children, there are three houses in the yard, the middle house being her sister’s, which was destroyed with everything inside.
Williams said that at the time of the incident her sister was not at home, and her eldest niece was with her in the front house where she lives. She related that it was a few minutes before lunch when she alerted her 16- year-old that it was time to collect her smaller sister from school; and within a few minutes, the entire house was in flames.
Williams recounted that she ran over to the house and tried to pull the main switch, but she was shocked.
She said, they were unable to save anything significant since the fire blocked the entrance to the door and the only thing she could have retrieved from inside was a nearby desktop computer.
She noticed, too, that a nearby transformer was sparking.
Williams and her neighbours reported that the transformer sparks every time it rains, and reports had been many, time and again, to Guyana Power and Light.
The 39- year old mother of three, Parbattie Sukhoo, who sells snow cones to bring in a daily income was not in a position to say anything yesterday as she was overcome by the loss.
People from the neighbourhood used a bucket to fight the fire before the Fire Service tender arrived.
Meanwhile, the Fire Service has assured the family that it will help in soliciting donations to assist them.
Persons willing to help can contact the family on telephone number 592-222-4469.