THE celebration of a new year was shortened on Thursday afternoon, when a family of five, residing in the Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar Linden, lost everything they owned, when a fire completely destroyed their home.

The two-storey house was gutted by fire that ripped through its walls in a matter of minutes and while the Linden Fire Service promptly responded, unfortunately nothing was saved.

This left patriarch of the home, Keion Hope, so distraught and lost for words, that he was unable to speak to the media or fire officials to relate what might have caused the fire. He was not at home at the time of the fire, but his wife, three children and two elderly relatives visiting from overseas were able to escape the blaze.

The wife said she was burning garbage at the time and the children were playing in the lower flat while the elderly couple was upstairs. The fire occurred at around 13:00hrs. No one was engaged in any activity that might have resulted in a fire.

Hope was able to relate what his estimated loss is, stating, “the house was fully furnished, it have everything in it.” One neighbour related to the Guyana Chronicle that the blaze suddenly started and all she saw was smoke and screams of fire.

“Them in get to save nothing, nothing, nothing, what a tragedy for the new year, three children, where will they go, I wish I could help them but I can’t.” The family is seeking refuge at relatives.

Fire fighters said it was too early to ascertain what caused of the fire. A few moments after quelling the blaze, they were summoned to another fire in Amelia’s Ward, but no property was burnt, since they managed to put the fire out before it spread to the nearby houses. This is the second house to be burnt in Wismar, Linden in a matter of weeks.