AN eight-room hotel in New Amsterdam was on Monday evening saved from total damage thanks to the prompt response of the New Amsterdam Fire Department after smoke was seen coming from the top of the building. Eyewitnesses around 20:00 hrs saw smoke which was followed by flames coming from the roof of La Chateau Van Fago Ketur Hotel at lot 45 Main Street, Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne).
Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and immediately began tackling the blaze at the top of the three-storey building.
Flames were seen in the ceiling as the firefighters encountered problems accessing adequate water from two nearby fire hydrants and dealing with the height of the building.
Guyana Fire Service Berbice Divisional Officer Patrick Carmichael said that the Fire Department had to resort to the trench at Republic Road, which is 200 metres away. “However, after we spoke to an official from Guyana Water Inc., they increased the pressure and must be commended for their support which was able to let us put out the fire with the building still standing,” Carmichael said.
He noted that the Fire Department came out in full force and he was pleased with the work that his officers did. A unit from GuySuCo, Rose Hall Estate also arrived on the scene and gave support.
The hotel, which was opened on Valentine’s Day 2013, also housed a bar, Internet café, and banquet hall. At the time of the blaze, no one was in the building. The owner of the building, Suzan James, left for the United Kingdom two weeks ago and has since moved to the United States. Business had come to a standstill, and the building was closed when she left.
Meanwhile, Carmichael is advising persons to exercise more care and caution during this period of “the dry spell.” His comments came in the wake of another fire which on Sunday completely destroyed a small house at West Canefield Canje, Region 6, leaving three persons homeless. The divisional officer also expressed concern over the state of the Republic Road canal which was constructed as a reservoir for firefighting in the town. Heavy vegetation has taken over most of that canal. The cause of Monday night’s blaze is still unknown, but many believe it was of an electrical nature. Carmichael said it was too early to make a comment and added that an investigation would have been launched yesterday.