CHILDREN in the upper flat of a dwelling house at Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara are suspected to have started a fire which very quickly and completely gutted that building and the neighbouring property of Puran Brothers Waste Disposal Service, in the process claiming the life of 97-year-old Princess Tinnamon, called ‘Sister P’.
The conflagration started at approximately 10:00 hrs yesterday, and
71-year-old Vivian Thomas, who jointly occupied the upper flat of the house with ‘Sister P’, sustained burns and other injuries and is a patient at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).
The lower flat of the building was reportedly occupied by Sharon Thomas and her son. Thomas told this publication that she did not get to save anything, because the heat was so intense she had to exit the building. The woman added that she tried going upstairs to get her elderly relatives, but the heat was too intense, so she had to save herself.
She said she had first smelt as if something like grass was burning, then she saw thick smoke billowing from the upper flat of the house; and within minutes, it was totally engulfed, with fire spreading to the building next door.
Owner of Puran Bros Waste Disposal Service, Lakenauth Puran, said his losses are in the millions, since the building housed a small-scale fuel depot, an office, and a mechanical workshop with equipment and several parked vehicles, all of which were destroyed by the fire yesterday morning.
Office Manager Kalesh Puran told this publication that ‘Puran Brothers’ has about 15 employees. Kalesh said he was inside the office when the fire started, and managed to save only some documents, but he had ensured that the workers vacated the premises.
He noted there was nothing that could have been done apart from his moving some important documents and urging employees to vacate the premises. He said he was in distress at the passing of the elderly woman who perished in the blaze.
The Purans reportedly used to support the deceased woman with a regular supply of groceries, and they deemed her demise as very unfortunate. They say it has left them traumatised, since they had become emotionally attached to the senior citizen and had always tried to make her comfortable.
The Purans pointed out that they have suffered a tremendous loss of more than $80M, but they are trying to restart the operation and are seeking a building to occupy. Their losses notwithstanding, the Purans would like to express sympathy to the relatives of the 97-year-old woman, whom they had grown accustomed to and with whom they had developed a good relationship.
A neighbour, Robert Singh, said he resides directly aback the gutted properties, and was at home when he heard loud shouts of “Fire!” He said he went to see what was happening, and saw fire emanating from the top flat of the wooden house. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was summoned whilst neighbours tried to save the elderly occupants trapped inside the building.
Residents said that it was very heart-rending hearing the screams of 97-year-old Princess Tinnamon, but they could do nothing to help her. Her charred remains were found under a zinc sheet inside the burnt out house after the flames were doused.
Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle told the Chronicle that the GFS received the fire call after 10:00 hrs, and immediately dispatched two fire tenders from Central Fire Service and were backed up by one from Leonora and the GuySuCo Landrover Light Tender.
He said firemen contained the blaze to the two buildings, and discovered the remains of the elderly woman among debris after the fire was extinguished by more than a dozen firefighters.
Gentle noted that a probe has been launched to determine the cause of fire.
It was observed that, after the fire, surviving occupants of the house were arguing among themselves. It was reported that there is a property dispute among relatives.
The land belongs to the Purans and was leased to the homeowner by request, since the Purans grew up with the family next door, including the two elderly women.
By Michel Outridge
