By Ariana Gordon

FIRE believed to be set by a known “junkie” in the Campbellville area gutted an old, abandoned Craig Street wooden building on Friday at just about 22:15 hrs(10:15pm). This fire followed an earlier dispute between the accused and a female occupant of unsound mind who occupied the one-storey building.

Residents were heard shouting, “Inside! Inside! Fire! Fire! You in there?” as they attempted to ascertain whether the woman was in the building.

According to reports, the woman and the alleged arsonist had a fight on Friday morning, and he was reportedly heard threatening to burn the building.
“I hear he telling she he gonna bun the building down and kill she,” a resident said.

Another noted that the duo would “smoke weed” at the location and would often fight.

“This was expected. That house was unoccupied for a long time, and then suddenly this junkie come and start live in deh…she had to get a ladder to climb in and out of that place.”

Residents told Guyana Chronicle that the accused was seen pacing Craig Street between Sheriff Street and Stone Avenue just before the fire started.

“He look like he di crying…I see di man walking up and down, and I deh saying to somebody that like he going deh fuh start another session with the mad girl,” a woman stated.

“You know how long we reported that this junkie living here and it is dangerous?” another resident stated, noting that several reports were made to the authorities.

The man was seen running away from the scene minutes before fire was noticed in the building.

Meanwhile, members of the Campbellville Fire Station were criticised for failing to act promptly when notified, and for arriving on the scene with no water. Approximately 15 minutes after the start of the fire, the Fire Service arrived, much to the dismay of residents.

“They deh right round the corner and couldn’t come here! Is till the lil boy go to them again they come out!” a resident added. Three fire tenders subsequently arrived on the scene.

The fire from the old wooden house quickly spread to a nearby three-storey building belonging to former national cricketer Lennox Cush, causing some damage to the exterior. Up until press time, Guyana Chronicle was unable to ascertain whether the woman of unsound mind was in the building at the time of the fire.