– as part of Fire Prevention Week
NINETY-three-year-old fire survivor Ms. Olive London benefited from a financial donation from the Berbice Division of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), given as part of its 39th Fire Prevention Week celebrations.The petite Olive, who lost her ailing 88-year-old sister Margaret in a conflagration that completely destroyed their century-old wooden home at Islington Village, Greater New Amsterdam, expressed gratitude for the kind gesture, which was handed over by Section Leader Shivonne Smartt in the presence of Divisional Officer Compton Sparman and other officers.
Sparman said the token was an expression of appreciation to the fire survivor, whom the ranks readily agreed to acknowledge during their fire sensitization week of activities.
On September 26 last, 88-year-old Margaret London, a peaceful and quiet woman who had suffered a stroke which had made her bedridden for a few years, died from suspected smoke inhalation after a lighted lamp, which had been left unattended on a bed at Seventh Street, Islington, Greater New Amsterdam, fell and set fire to the home she had shared with her sister Olive.
Olive was rescued by Pastor Ryan Manpowan of the Overwinning Open Bible Church, who was having his usual exercise when he heard shouts of “Fire!” Since the disaster had left the pensioner homeless, the unmarried woman is being taken care of by her rescuer and his wife at the church manse at Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam, a stone’s throw from where she once lived.
She is, however, currently with relatives at St Magdalene Street in New Amsterdam.