FORTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Fazan Ali Asgar of Lot 45 Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice perished on Thursday night in a fire at his home.

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle said that, at about 22:38hrs on Thursday, the Onverwagt Fire Station on the West Coast of Berbice responded to a fire call wherein firefighters observed that a section of the wooden cottage had been destroyed by fire believed to have been started from under the bed, presumably by a lighted cigarette left unattended, which ignited a fire.

This fire resulted in the lone occupant of the modest house, who had fallen asleep presumably under the influence of alcohol, being burned to death. His charred remains were found by firemen after the blaze had been doused.

The Chief Fire Officer appealed to citizens to desist from igniting fires on parapets, and also to stop burning garbage and other waste. He said the country is experiencing a dry spell, and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has noted an upsurge in fires caused by persons who are in the habit of burning refuse and other waste on parapets and in their yards.

Gentle noted that fires on parapets create poor visibility to motorists and other road users, and can also damage or destroy utility poles and culverts.

(Michel Outridge)