SEVEN persons from Agricola, East Bank Demerara, including a baby, were left homeless when a kerosene lamp fell to the ground and diffused, setting the floor of their home alight on Monday evening at about 23:00hrs. Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle told this publication that the two-storey wooden building which housed two sets of tenants was quickly engulfed, but three fire tenders from Central and West Ruimveldt fire stations responded to the call, doused the flames, and contained the fire.

Four persons occupied the upper storey of the building, while three others occupied the lower flat. Both families were renting the house from someone residing overseas.

Among the displaced is Rhonda Philips, a mother of four, whose youngest child is 19 days old. Everyone managed to safely vacate the burning building.

Last week, a fire reportedly set by an 8-year-old boy destroyed the upper flats of two houses at First Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, leaving seven persons homeless. That fire had also scorched a nearby house. (Michel Outridge)