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A RAGING fire late yesterday afternoon destroyed the home of the Gangadeens on the Lusignan Public Road on the East Coast of Demerara. The fire, which started at approximately 17.00hrs, completely destroyed the family’s home and severely damaged a nearby building where the family operated a furniture store. Yesterday’s fire also threatened two other buildings in close proximity. Yesterday a resident told the media that he was in his home when his mother called out to him saying that she was smelling smoke and that there might be afire somewhere close by. He said that his mother suspected the building in front of their home.
The man said that when he ventured in front of his yard he noticed smoke coming from the Gangadeens’ building and began calling out to them and realized that there was no one at home.
The resident told the Guyana Chronicle that he and some other persons then began attempting to break the door to the house to gain entry and get the fire under control. He said that repeated efforts initially proved to be a failure and it was only later that they were able to break and enter the building. However, he said that by then the fire was everywhere and they had to run out of the building.
The man said that he placed several calls to the fire service and it was only until almost one hour that a fire tender arrived at the scene. The man said that when the fire tender arrived on the scene, the family home had already been completely engulfed and all the men had to do was to contain the blaze.
According to the gentleman, the residents in the area tried desperately to avoid the fire spreading to the nearby buildings, but that effort was limited because of the smoke and the heat. When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on the scene it was noticed that several persons, who were not employed by the Guyana Fire Service battling the blaze along with the fire fighters. They mounted themselves on top of the three storeyed furniture store building where they controlled the fire hose.
However, they were soon forced to abandon that building after it was realized that there was fire burning between the ceiling and the roof of the building they had mounted.
The resident told the members of the media that while they were able to prevent his house from burning and suffering any fire damage, there was extensive water damage to household items.
As the fire blazed the police quickly took control of the East Coast Highway, diverting traffic from the main carriage way onto the embankment and ensuring that motorists and their passengers were out of danger.
Meanwhile, at Lusignan, the spectators almost made the road impassable as they gathered from surrounding villages to watch the blaze.
Yesterday’s fire saw many persons coming up with various theories as to how the fire was started. Some were of the view that the fire started due to a supernatural being.
They linked the fire with the death of 30-year old Bridgette Gangandeen whose body was discovered in front of the Vigilance Police Station on May 02 2010. Her head was crushed by a canter truck, which was being driven by her husband Dwarka Gangadeen.
The man was later charged with murder and was later freed of the charge, after it was concluded that there was not enough evidence to convict him.
Yesterday, persons said that it was the spirit of the woman who had revenged her own death, and the fact that the man is now free and walking the streets.
The Guyana Fire Service is conducting investigations into the fire and is expected to revisit the scene this morning.
The man said that when he ventured in front of his yard he noticed smoke coming from the Gangadeens’ building and began calling out to them and realized that there was no one at home.
The resident told the Guyana Chronicle that he and some other persons then began attempting to break the door to the house to gain entry and get the fire under control. He said that repeated efforts initially proved to be a failure and it was only later that they were able to break and enter the building. However, he said that by then the fire was everywhere and they had to run out of the building.
The man said that he placed several calls to the fire service and it was only until almost one hour that a fire tender arrived at the scene. The man said that when the fire tender arrived on the scene, the family home had already been completely engulfed and all the men had to do was to contain the blaze.
According to the gentleman, the residents in the area tried desperately to avoid the fire spreading to the nearby buildings, but that effort was limited because of the smoke and the heat. When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on the scene it was noticed that several persons, who were not employed by the Guyana Fire Service battling the blaze along with the fire fighters. They mounted themselves on top of the three storeyed furniture store building where they controlled the fire hose.
However, they were soon forced to abandon that building after it was realized that there was fire burning between the ceiling and the roof of the building they had mounted.
The resident told the members of the media that while they were able to prevent his house from burning and suffering any fire damage, there was extensive water damage to household items.
As the fire blazed the police quickly took control of the East Coast Highway, diverting traffic from the main carriage way onto the embankment and ensuring that motorists and their passengers were out of danger.
Meanwhile, at Lusignan, the spectators almost made the road impassable as they gathered from surrounding villages to watch the blaze.
Yesterday’s fire saw many persons coming up with various theories as to how the fire was started. Some were of the view that the fire started due to a supernatural being.
They linked the fire with the death of 30-year old Bridgette Gangandeen whose body was discovered in front of the Vigilance Police Station on May 02 2010. Her head was crushed by a canter truck, which was being driven by her husband Dwarka Gangadeen.
The man was later charged with murder and was later freed of the charge, after it was concluded that there was not enough evidence to convict him.
Yesterday, persons said that it was the spirit of the woman who had revenged her own death, and the fact that the man is now free and walking the streets.
The Guyana Fire Service is conducting investigations into the fire and is expected to revisit the scene this morning.
