By Navendra Seoraj
FOR the second time, in less than a year, the Sachi’s building on Regent Street, Georgetown, has been ravaged by fire, leaving several businessmen, who were renting parts of the building, counting millions of dollars in losses.
The fire reportedly started in an empty lot at the side of the building on Sunday night, where someone had set a pile of rubbish on fire.
Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle, who was at the scene, told reporters that the Guyana Fire Service was alerted about a fire in the area around 20:32hrs, on Sunday.
“We received a report of a pile of rubbish burning next to the old Sachi’s building, so the unit was dispatched and when they turned on Regent Street, they observed large flames.

“We moved to a second alarm and two units form central were dispatched. When they got there the fire had already penetrated the building and the two upper floors were well alight, so we went to third alarm and the units from West and Campbellville were summoned and we went into very aggressive firefighting action, to prevent the fire from spreading,” said Gentle.

Firefighters were confronted with winds and they also encountered difficulties with one of the hydrants, but they were able to clear the debris and gain access to what Gentle described as “excellent water support.”

Three water hydrants and the canals between South Road and Croal Street were used to access water in order to extinguish the fire.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, who was also at the scene, commended the firefighters for their efforts to contain the fire.

The team from the fire service managed to contain the fire to Sachi’s building and stop it from spreading to the neighbouring Doray’s building.
“Unfortunately we lost this building (Sachi’s), but the Doray’s building has been saved, there may be some water damage to the windows because the fire was accessing the building, but I am satisfied with the great effort by the fire service and the police,” said Benn in an invited comment.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) worked collaboratively with the fire service to ensure that civilians were kept away from the scene, which is about 150 feet east of the GUYOIL fuel station.