THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) came in for praise when firemen, responding to a call, saved a dwelling house at Lot 213 ‘B’ Camp Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown from being consumed by flames on Monday afternoon. The fire could have done only minimal damage before it was extinguished.

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle told this publication that the Service received the call at approximately 15:00hr, and its prompt response enabled timely dousing of the blaze, which started when an electrical fan malfunctioned whilst the lone home occupant, Loaknauth Singh, had reportedly fallen asleep as he was watching television in the upper flat of the building. Gentle said the neighbours observed smoke billowing from the edifice and summoned the GFS; and fire fighters gained entry to the burning building by breaking a wall. He said that only the flat screen television, flooring and inner walls of the building were damaged by the fire, which had been electrical in origin,

FURNITURE FACTORY FIRE
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a small furniture business at Lusignan West, East Coast Demerara was destroyed by fire on Monday night. Businessman Hemchandra Ragubir of Lot 323 Lusignan West told the GFS that he ceased operation and locked up the business on Saturday last, but was later alerted to a fire of unknown origin which quickly devoured the building. Gentle said the two-storey building housed the furniture operation in the lower flat, and no one was at home at the time of the fire.

MINIBUS DRIVER RESCUED
In yet another incident, the Fire Chief said the GFS participated in a rescue operation on Monday when a route 42 minibus crashed into a utility pole at the junction of Princes and High Streets, Georgetown. He said the GFS ranks were able to extricate the bus driver from the vehicle after about 20 minutes of using specialised cutting equipment. Bus driver Orwin Segon had reportedly swerved from a pick-up vehicle and slammed head-on into the utility pole on Monday at about 14:00 hours. He was promptly rushed to the GPHC for medical attention.