A FIRE believed to be electrical in origin on Wednesday destroyed a two-storey house in Galaxy Street, Canefield, East Canje, Berbice, leaving in its wake an estimated $10M in losses.According to Garfield Fyfe, who lives in the three-bedroom house with his wife and brother-in-law, he was out shopping when he received a call from his wife telling him smoke was coming from the room downstairs.

“I was going for sand and me girl call and said come now that fire deh in we front room downstairs.”

Fyfe said when he arrived at the scene several minutes later; the entire house was already engulfed in flames.

He related that he suspects the fire to be electrical in origin since the very room from which it started housed the main electrical panels.

“The front room downstairs get the fuse box but nothing ain’t went on so, I can’t really say how come the fire start in deh cause that is the only thing in deh.”

Fyfe stated that the house belonged to an overseas-based Guyanese named “Sandra”; however, he has been living there for over 12 years and furnished the home through his savings from his hollow-block business.

According to Neeta Basdeo, a neighbour, around 11:45 hrs, she heard shouts of Fire! Fire! from Fyfe’s wife and upon investigation, she saw smoke coming from the lower flat of the building.

“I hear she calling out loud, loud and when I watch, I see heavy smoke coming from the downstairs so we start fuh shout too.”

As more people became aware of the fire, a bucket brigade was quickly formed to try and out the fire; however, the inferno was too much since the fire quickly engulfed the entire house.

Residents tried to save items but were forced to give up their attempts due to the intense heat. They, however, managed to save a three-piece sofa set.

By this time three fire tenders from the New Amsterdam Fire Station responded and the firemen had quickly got to work and managed to contain the blaze and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring houses.

A distraught Fyfe stated that he plans to seek refuge with his mother until he can pick up the pieces again, noting that the loss is a major one since he had accumulated the items over the years and it would be difficult to get them all back.