CHRISTMAS for several Bent Street, Wortmanville families may be bleak, after a fire razed their homes early Friday morning.

The fire of unknown origin started at around 05:00hrs and quickly spread to surrounding houses. The occupants escaped unharmed.
When Guyana Chronicle arrived at the scene, members of the Guyana Fire Service were already battling the fire, with support from residents. Several fire fighters were controlling the hose to ensure the fire was put out and it did not destroy a fifth building.

A member of the Perreira family, who lived at one of the houses, told the Guyana Chronicle that she was asleep when she was awakened by a sudden ‘heat’. “I screamed for my sister to wake up and just get out the house. We were sleeping; I don’t know which side the fire started. We were only able to save our washer, computer, and couple other things,” she said. She said residents first reacted to assist the families.

Shania Ramdohar, a resident whose house was razed, said that the fire service responded late. She said the phone lines were busy and when she finally spoke to someone, the respondent said “to hold”. ”They telling people hold and it is not an emergency. They say they on their way, ten minutes pass and they wasn’t here,” she said.

Ramdohar added that if the response was prompt, other houses could have been saved.
Another resident who gave her name as ‘Natasha’ said she lived with her two sons, and she was awakened by the ‘smoke’. “I jump out my bed and when I look at the window I saw this fire and by time I could get water to throw it start spreading all over.

I couldn’t save anything. I just woke up my children and run on the road because that is all I had a chance to do. I think it start from my house because it was just a lil thing when I wake up”, Natasha said.

Meanwhile the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, on Friday, visited the families who were affected by the fire and showed his concern. Narine also told the residents to make contact with the Guyana Relief Council for assistance.