INVESTIGATORS are of the opinion that the fire which completely destroyed a two-storey house in Cato Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and left a family of five homeless was caused by a child playing with matches.The fire, which started at approximately 16:50hrs, reportedly began in the lower-flat of the house and quickly spread to the upper-flat, completely destroying the property.

The occupants of the house, Mickesha Marcus, 23, and her reputed husband Sherwin Alstrom, along with their three children: aged five, three and one were not at home when the fire started.

A distraught Marcus told Guyana Chronicle that she was at a nearby house when she was informed that the house was on fire. The woman said she has been living at the location for quite some time and never experienced any electrical problems there. She said the only appliance that was plugged in when she left her home earlier in the day was the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, Sherwin Alstrom, 38, who also lived at 151 Cato Street, Agricola told reporters that he is a horse cart operator and was in the village gathering feed for his horse when he was told that his house was on fire.

The distraught man, who also rears poultry for a living, said no one was at home at the time of the fire and could not explain what would have caused the fire.