Members of the Guyana Fire Service responded promptly to reports that a ‘garbage fire’ threatened to destroy the Victory Baptist church at Providence, East Bank Demerara. But before the firemen arrived on the scene, this man took a break from Boxing Day “drinks” at a nearby rum shop to do what he could to help. The fire started at about 5:30 p.m. in a yard aback a rum shop.
The shop is located next to the church, and persons at the scene reported that a woman, who was among those persons at the shop, was seen burning a garbage heap moments before the fire started to threaten the church. The flames caught onto the trestle aback the church, and a man at the shop tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the flames.
Thick black smoke was visible from the public road, and passing motorists converged at the scene. Minutes later, the firemen arrived and extinguished the flames, as persons
at the shop, including several intoxicated men, argued over how the fire was started. Residents were in high praise of the firemen.

(Alva Solomon photo)