A FAMILY of 12 is now homeless after a five-year-old playing with matches caused a wooden structure on concrete posts to go up in flames Friday afternoon.Before firefighters reached the Lot 43, Nelson Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara home it had been already gutted after the fire started at 14:10hrs.
One of the occupants of the house, Winston Braithwaite, said seven children and five adults shared the house and at the time of the fire only an 81-year-old visually-impaired woman was at home with the five-year-old at the time. The child found a box of matches and the rest is history.
Joseph Magaram, who also resided in the house, said he learnt that the cause of the fire was the result of a nursery school child playing with matches.
He explained that his 81-year-old mother who was home at the time is near- sighted and made the discovery after noticing the smoke.
“When I come home I was told by neighbours that my kids were not at home and the house burn down. People tried to help with the fire already burnt up the place; someone had to bring out my mom because she was panicking,” he said. He said all valuables and documents went up in flames. The occupants would welcome any assistance from anyone or agency that can assist with them getting back on their feet.