FIRE ripped through a dwelling house at Water Street, Ogle, East Coast Demerara, yesterday morning, displacing a family of eight.

According to eyewitness, Abekie Dublin she was standing on her verandah next door when she noticed the fire and raised an alarm shortly after 09.00hrs.

She told this publication that the fire started at the upper flat rear window of the wood and concrete two-storey house after the electrical wire began sparking and then caught alight.

Dublin said within minutes the electrical wire which was attached to the house from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) utility pole was ignited and it fell to the ground and consumed the edifice.

She noted that the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) showed up within minutes of the distress call and began dousing the flames and contained it to that building.

The house was owned by Roy Rupchand, who occupied the top flat with his wife, Evelyn Rupchand and a grandson while the lower flat was occupied by Rupchand’s son, his wife and three children.

Roy Rupchand and his wife Rookmin were at Mandir (Hindu temple) when the fire started and consumed the house but were alerted to the blaze by neighbours, who summoned the GFS.

The displaced family was too distraught to speak to this publication yesterday and were staying with relatives.