A FIRE of unknown origin destroyed a house at Coghlan Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD) in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday.

Reports are that the occupant–43-year-old Mahesh Parwat–who lived alone and is a known alcoholic, has claimed that he was awakened out of a deep sleep by someone shouting, “fire! Fire!”

Parwat reportedly said that by the time he came to himself and ran out of the house, it was already engulfed in flames.

But despite the best efforts of the fire brigade and neighbours who formed a bucket brigade, they were unable to contain the fire, and everything was reduced to rubble.