By Richard Bhainie

AN early morning fire on Wednesday at 974 Section ‘B’ Block XI Patterson, Sophia, East Coast Demerara, completely destroyed the upper flat of a two-storey house.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday, Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle, related that while investigations are currently ongoing, the suspected origin of the fire may be due to children playing.

“The fire started in a bedroom where some children were in, and we suspect that one of the children set the mattress on fire, they were playing or something,” Gentle said.

The building houses three apartments and a shop on the ground floor, while the owner of the home occupies the upstairs.

At the time of the fire, the owner, her three daughters and two of the tenants were at home.

The proprietor, Melanie Thomas, explained that around 08:00 hours, she was in her shop when she heard her children’s outcry that the house was on fire but by that time the building was already engulfed in flames.

Ronalda Lewis, the daughter of Melanie Thomas, related that she was in her bedroom at the time while her sisters were in the other bedrooms.

One of her sisters asked her if smoke was emitting from the light in her bedroom, which prompted her to switch off the light in her room and check her mother’s room. Upon checking her mother’s room, she witnessed the mattress on fire.

Lewis related to the Guyana Chronicle that she suffered millions in loses as everything in her home was completely destroyed.

One of the tenants, Kelesia Lewis, explained that the downstairs did not suffer any damage from the fire but due to debris and water, her apartment was flooded which consequently damaged her belongings.

The fire service received a call informing them of the fire around 08:15 hours, which prompted a response from the Campbellville Fire Station, and they were able to contain the blaze.

The Fire Chief is pleading with members of the public to teach children the basic fire drills in the home. He is also urging to keep children away from matches and other flame-making appliances and apparatuses.