FIRE Chief Marlon Gentle, on Friday, disclosed that the fire, which completely destroyed a small wooden single-flat house in Sophia, leaving four persons homeless, including two children, was caused by one of the minors.

The children, ages 3 and 6, were rescued from the burning house in ‘D’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown just after 21:00hrs on Thursday. They lived at the small wooden single flat house with their mother and her brother Nicholas Harvey.

According to the Fire Chief, the children were left unattended at the time of the fire. He said, based on investigation conducted, one of the two boys was playing with matches when articles within the house caught afire. They were rescued by passersby.

Initial reports indicated that the children were left in the care of Harvey, while their mother went to work. Harvey told a police investigator at the scene, that he left home after 18:00hrs for Dennis Street, Sophia. The children, according to him, were asleep.

He said it was around 21:14hrs that he received a call indicating that the building was on fire. It is unclear at what stage the children were removed from the burning building.
However, when Guyana Chronicle arrived at the scene, the first of two fire tenders was in full operation. A man, while still holding two buckets, said that upon learning that there was a fire, he quickly formed a bucket brigade. He lived close by.

According to the public-spirited citizen, the fire service response was prompt.  The fire service managed to contain the fire from spreading to a neighbouring house and an unfinished property.
The Chief Fire Chief said the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force are continuing their investigation, and the matter will be soon transferred to the Child Care and Protection Agency. He said the fact that the children were left unattended is a major cause for concern, particularly for their safety and wellbeing.