FOLLOWING the fire last Saturday night which destroyed a property at Lot 167 Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle said the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is still investigating the conflagration which destroyed the building that served as a large storage bond.

He noted that they are doing some groundwork to ascertain the cause of the fire, and recalled reports by residents that there was a very loud explosion which rocked the village before the blaze, leaving many cracked windows in the vicinity.

At about 21:30hrs last Saturday the GFS received a fire call that a house was ablaze and fire tenders rushed to the scene and contained the fire to that one building.

The fire victim, a businessman who resides in the city, said he is at a loss as to what may have caused the fire which completely destroyed his property which was a house that was converted to a bond after many repairs and he had in storage electrical appliances of various sizes.

He stated that his losses ran into millions and he was one of many persons who showed up but he could only watch as his place was devoured by raging flames.
ARSON SUSPECTED
Meanwhile, in a separate fire which consumed a dwelling house at Friendship Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday night, Gentle told this publication that arson is suspected but the investigation is incomplete.

He added that a vehicle (Toyota Spacio) which was parked under the house was ignited by a person or persons and it set alight the building as well.

The one-storey building was occupied by Wendell Lovell, his wife and three children and they lost all their worldly possessions as fire ripped through the house within minutes at about 11:00hrs last Saturday.

Luckily the occupants managed to exit the house to safety and no was injured. The police are also investigating the fire.