A FIRE which destroyed a Number 79 Village Corentyne, Berbice house on Friday, was caused by a slack connection of overhead wires which sparked and ignited window curtains.

The Guyana Fire Service, in a press release, said the fire quickly spread throughout the house and completely destroyed the two storey wooden and concrete structure.

The house was owned by Kulcharran Persaud who resided there with his family of 13.

According to the fire service, it received a report of the fire at Lot 56 Number 79 Village Corentyne, Berbice at 12:45 hours.

“One jet working from Water Tender 87 tank supply and two jets working from an open water source using light pump 109 was used to extinguish the fire,” the GFS said in its report.

The GFS refuted claims in sections of the media which suggested it was ill-equipped to handle the fire and had to resort to using “water from the river”.

“On arrival at the scene, one jet from Water Tender 87 original tank supply was employed to contain the blaze while firefighters sought an open water source.

“The Corentyne River was used as the open water source and two jets connected to light pump 107 were used to extinguish the fire,” the GFS explained.

Prashad, who repairs fishing net for a living, said he nor the other occupants were able to save anything.

He added that only last year he did some renovations to the house. In tears, the man said he has nowhere to go and no money to even rebuild.

Presently he and his family are staying by a neighbor’s house. Among the homeless includes children between the ages of one to eight years.