AN investigation has been launched into an early-morning fire that caused over $50M in damage at Number 75 Village, East Berbice, Corentyne.

According to proprietor Harrinarine Singh called “Sham,” around 02:30hrs, he was awakened by the blaring horn of a vehicle in front of his home. Upon enquiring, he was told by the person in the vehicle that his house was ablaze.

Singh, a businessman, said he quickly alerted his family and as they were about to exit the house, the power came off and they could not find the keys.

“The light cut off, so we could not find the keys and the smoke start to get thick in the house and we could not breathe. Me wife eventually get wan torchlight and we open the door and had to jump on the shed and luckily the truck was parked next to it, so we jump on the truck and then come down,” Singh related.

He noted that as they were leaving they grabbed a basket of clothes that was nearby. That was the only thing they managed to save from the inferno that reduced the house to rubble. The fire also spread to a neighbour’s house, scorching a wall and shattering some windows. A pickup truck parked in the yard was completely destroyed.

The 60-year-old man, who sells blocks and flower pots, said he recently started to expand his business and had bought some parts for his trucks as well as some new equipment. They were all destroyed, including his licensed firearm, jewellery and cash that he had for his business at home.

The businessman related that the fire started from the back of the two-storey wooden and concrete building in a section that was not powered by electricity.

He believes the fire was an act of arson by persons who are envious of him and his business.

The fire reportedly took a while to spread. The businessman expressed dissatisfaction with the Guyana Fire Service, which took a while to respond to the blaze.

“Since we come out the house, people calling the fire service and they not responding; but eventually, some other station call and they get the message and them come, but the pump was not working to pull the water from the trench. So them had to use a smaller pump which take some time, so the fire spread and little bit more the neighbour would a burn up in the house,” he said.

His neighbour, an elderly male, had to be rushed to safety after the fire spread to the walls of his bedroom. It was eventually put out by the fire service that had to focus on saving the property from being engulfed in the blaze.

The family said they will clean up the debris as quickly as possible and look to rebuild and continue their business.