OVER a dozen persons are now homeless as a result of separate fires that occurred in North Melanie, East Coast Demerara and Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, on Wednesday.

A 77-year-old retired teacher and several members of her family are displaced after a fire of unknown origin destroyed her Lot 21, North Melanie, East Coast Demerara residence.

Reports indicated that she was living in a two-storey wooden and concrete structure. The upper flat consisted of three bedrooms while the bottom flat consisted of two bedrooms, all of which are situated to the eastern side of the house.

One of the occupants of the house disclosed that, at approximately 16:30 hours, she was on the verandah preparing to do an online lesson when she smelled something burning and she visited the last bedroom and saw the entire room engulfed in flames.

She then raised an alarm and public-spirited citizens went to her assistance and helped in pushing her motorcar PEE 3076 out of the yard.
However, she was unable to save her household articles and personal documents from the blaze. The firefighters from the Mahaica Fire Station managed to contain the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings.

The house was completely gutted but no one was injured.

Meanwhile, at approximately 15:30 hours, a 44-year-old security guard from the Kalibur Security Service, attached to the Amelia’s Ward Nursery School lost her home while she was at work.

Enquiries disclosed that the victim is the mother of seven children, five of whom were living with her in the one-storey wooden house.
Reports indicated that she left two of her teenaged children at home, a male and a female, and went to work.

Later in the day her son left his sister at home, went at a friend’s home, and, about 14:00 hours, his sister secured the house and left to visit her mother’s work place.

During this time the victim ( the mother ) received information that her house was completely burnt. The Linden Fire Service is investigating the cause of the fire.