A FIRE of unknown origin on Friday morning destroyed two floors of a four-storey building located at 56 Robb Street, Bourda, Georgetown. The fire, which started at approximately 09:00hrs in the back half of the top floor of the building which houses a Chinese Variety store, quickly spread as firefighters struggled to acquire water to douse the flames which spread rapidly in that section of the building, threatening nearby wooden buildings.
Persons in the area quickly gathered at the scene to either get a glimpse of the spreading fire or to lend a helping hand to members of the Guyana Fire Service.
“Look deh, the fire spreading…them windows bussing y’all move down, it gonna pitch,” one man was heard screaming to those gathered while another observer opined, “they have goods stored up there and them goods gonna catch fast, these firemen need to go to the back and out the fire or is all these buildings in danger.”

But as firemen battled with the fire, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, arrived on the scene and observed the operations of the firemen for approximately one hour. When approached for a comment, the minister said, “I am not giving any statements on this.”
Guyana Chronicle observed that firemen were challenged by several factors and while confronting those challenges, the fire quickly spread from the back to the front of the building which reportedly contained flammable items. It is unclear who owns the building but this publication understands that the owner is currently out of the country.
The Chinese nationals who occupy the premises refused to provide any information and often times ran in the opposite direction of the media. Law enforcement officers were out in their numbers to prevent observers from walking into danger.
Meanwhile, a businessman who owns and operates a store to the right of the burnt building, told the Guyana Chronicle that three men were using a welding machine on the top floor of the four-storey building.
The man recounted that when the fire started the men pushed a generator aside and ran out of the building, after which the building became engulfed in flames. An alarm was raised and the Guyana Fire Service arrived on the scene.
Divisional Officer, Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Compton Sparman, told reporters that the cause of the fire is unknown as the GFS is still conducting investigations. He noted that while those who witnessed the fire are speculating, it is only through thorough investigations that the cause of the fire would be known.
Police ‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken, told reporters that the fire was reported at around 09:15hrs and the area was immediately contained so as to allow the Guyana Fire Service to extinguish the fire.