AN EARLY morning fire, yesterday, ripped through two eating houses at D’Urban and Camp Streets, in Georgetown.

The destruction of the Creole and Chinese restaurants, in the vicinity of the Camp Street Prison, resulted in millions of dollars in losses.
Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle said the Central Fire Station received the call about 01:50hrs and, initially, tenders from both the former and Alberttown stations responded and, later, got back-up from  West Ruimveldt and Campbellville.
He said a total of seven units went to the scene and, within an hour, firemen were able to contain the flames which originated in the living quarters of Gold Lion Chinese Restaurant in the upper flat of the building.
Gentle related that, at the time, the occupant of the premises was not at home. Himself and an employee were the only persons residing there as his wife and children are overseas on holiday.
The Fire Chief said the conflagration was unmanageable at first because several stored gas cylinders exploded but the firefighters did an excellent job, with the adequate coverage they had on the ground.
One of the owners of Supreme Creole Dish Restaurant, Ranetta Ritch, who was at the scene of the inferno, said she was in bed when she smelled rubber burning and asked her husband to check.
She said it was then he observed thick black smoke billowing from the building next door, Gold Lion Restaurant and they, quickly, exited their house, which adjoins their cookery, with the clothes they were wearing and a few important documents.

LOST EVERYTHING
Ritch reported that they lost everything, the value of which runs into millions of dollars, They were in the business for the past eight years and employed 14 people, who are now jobless as a result of the disaster.
Ritch said herself, husband and two others occupied the living quarters at Supreme Creole Restaurant, one of whom is, presently, staying at her mother’s place elsewhere in the city.
Meanwhile, a neighbour, Colin Goodridge told the Guyana Chronicle that he was awakened by his mother, who told him she saw fire at the Chinese restaurant and he hurried out of his house to help.
He said he began calling out his neighbours to alert them and, after a short while, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) arrived on the scene. The Guyana Fire Service is continuing its investigation into the cause.