THE recent disastrous blaze at Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank of Demerara, was caused by a chemical reaction at the storage bond, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle has disclosed. 

He said the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has completed a preliminary report which said rainfall contributed to the conflagration on Wednesday, October 30, that gutted the bond and a shed.
The large shed, which adjoins the storage for chemicals used in the making of mattresses, ignited following a loud explosion that evening, which resulted in millions of dollars in losses.
Gentle said the storage area burning is still being investigated as well as its ownership and occupancy.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that it was a complicated situation because chemical solutions were stored at the location and the flames got out of control rapidly, with explosions from the flammable substances on the premises.
Gentle said the GFS responded to the call with six firefighting trucks and used 1,000 litres of foam to contain the Wednesday night flames.
He also commended the firemen for the job done to fight what started just before 19:00 hrs.

(By Michel Outridge)