ANTHONY Brummel, called ‘Pepe’, of 79 Breda Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, was yesterday burnt to death when a fire razed the small wooden cottage in which he resided, trapping him in the midst.
An inconsolable Kamrool Azeez, Brummel’s reputed wife, told this newspaper that at the time of the incident, she was washing wares outside of the house, and Brummel was inside cooking on an old kerosene stove, which was apparently the origin of the fire.
She revealed that, mere minutes before tragedy struck, she had told Brummel not to cook because she had intended to purchase food, but he insisted on cooking.
Azeez said she looked up from her washing and saw the house afire, but the horrendous sight of her house in that state, coupled with the fact that ‘Pepe’ had been trapped inside, left her speechless. Azeez currently has no idea where she would now reside, as she has no relatives and is not acquainted with Pepe’s relatives.
Syra Rahamat, a neighbour, said she was at home sewing when the smell of smoke assailed her nostrils; and when she approached the engulfed house, she saw Azeez fetching water in a pot, attempting to extinguish the fire.
Rahamat described the late Brummel as a very nice person, who very willingly did odd jobs in the community. According to her, before tenders of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) arrived, community residents rushed with buckets and tubs to dip water out of nearby trenches in efforts to extinguish the fire.
Rahamat praised the GFS for diligent work in preventing the fire from spreading.  However, she said the GFS did not manage to save anything from the house.
She said the house was divided into two apartments, with Azeez and Brummel residing in one apartment, and the visually impaired Winston Goodridge occupying the other.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Goodridge was not at home at the time of the fire. Nevertheless, he spoke to this publication upon his arrival on scene, saying that he was at a shop in the same street when he was informed that his house was on fire. He noted that persons had unsuccessfully attempted to save some of his belongings, and that all he now has are the clothes on his back.
Goodridge was unsure as to where he would now stay, since most of his family members reside overseas. He disclosed that he is a pensioner, and is due to migrate sometime next year.
The house adjacent to the Brummel house in the same yard was scorched, while the windows of a house in an adjoining yard were shattered by the fire.