FIRE believed to have started after a pot was left unattended on a fireside (makeshift stove made of mud) yesterday destroyed a house at 211 Mon Repos North, East Coast Demerara, leaving one person homeless.

Displaced is Zackeer Hussain, 32, who was not at home when the flames consumed his cottage. He had left his home while cooking on the fireside below his wooden house.
Neighbours said that at around 10hrs they observed thick smoke billowing from his house. The Fire Service responded promptly to their call, and firefighters contained the fire, saving a dwelling house next door.
Residents said that Hussain returned home only to see his house in flames. He is staying for the while at the home of a relative nearby.
Meanwhile, a fire which broke out in the laboratory of the Golden Grove Secondary School, East Coast Demerara, early yesterday morning, was quickly doused by residents who formed a bucket brigade and then informed the Fire Service.
Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle said that conflagration started at about 2:00hrs, when a bottle containing a flammable substance fell off a shelf in the lab.
An alarm was raised, and there was minor damage to the cupboard.
He added that two fire tenders — one from Campbellville, Georgetown, and the other from Mahaica, East Coast Demerara –responded.
Gentle yesterday warned citizens not to leave unattended burning grass or garbage.
He reported that there were 12 bush fire calls for this month alone.