By Elvin Croker
FIVE persons are now homeless after fire destroyed their one-bedroom wooden cottage situated at 38, Duran Street Plaisance, on the East Coast Demerara.

Foul play is suspected in what is reportedly the third occurrence of fire at the property.
Fire fighters were able to contain the blaze on Wednesday evening, to the one bedroom wooden cottage, after receiving a call reporting the fire just around 19.00 hrs.
Relating the ordeal, Florence Alexander, 47, said it was just her four-year-old grandson and herself who were at home when the fire started.

“I went washing wares outside when I look up all I see is this big ball a fire in de kitchen,” she related.

The mother of two who estimated her loses at over one million dollars said the house, which is occupied by her two sons, a daughter-in-law, her grandson and herself, was burnt twice before.

“When me run in de bedroom fa pull out things, de fire keep coming mo an mo, su I had fo lef everything cause me can’t go through the fire,” the distressed mother who lost everything said.

Alexander explained that her nephew had died in the last fire on the property a few years ago.

She said the property which was reduced to ashes belongs to her 81-year-old mother who she said did not return to it, after the death of the family member.
The woman who works as a security guard, on the night shift, told fire officials that she did not work because it was her night off and she believes someone sent “fire bun” on her house again.

She explained that she recently won a court battle over issues surrounding access to the property and believes persons are after her for the land.
Alexander was taken into police custody to give statements on the fire.