THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has confirmed that the fire which destroyed a house at La Grange on New Year’s Day, leaving nine homeless, was lit by a child left unattended, playing with a lighter.
According to a release from the GFS, on Monday, at 13:35hrs, firefighters received a call alerting to a fire at Lot 171, Unity Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

“Water tender #111 with a full tank supply (450 gallons) and a crew from the La Grange Fire Station were immediately dispatched to the location and arrived on the scene at 13:45 hrs. Upon arrival, firefighters observed a two-storey wooden and concrete house fully engulfed in flames and in the final stages of destruction.

“The building was located behind several houses and was only accessible via a narrow alleyway. The distance from the fire truck to the scene of the fire was approximately 250 metres,” the release detailed.

Based on the fact that the roof of the building had already collapsed and that no nearby buildings were threatened by the fire, firefighters opted to establish a continuous water relay system using a light pump and an open water source instead of using the tank’s supply.

The property was owned by 44-year-old Nigel Douglas. The first floor of the building was occupied by Douglas, while the ground floor was occupied by 34-year-old Keon Gonsalves and his seven family members.

The GFS confirmed on Tuesday that the fire reportedly started after a child was left unattended while playing with a lighter on a chair. The lighter sparked, resulting in naked flames that fell onto the chair, ignited, and spread to nearby combustible materials.

Also, the GFS refuted claims circulating in certain sections of the media that they did not bring water to the scene, pointing out their capability to handle fires with water or other extinguishing agents.

The release urged the public to seek accurate information before making assumptions and discrediting the efforts of the hardworking and dedicated Fire Service ranks.

“The Guyana Fire Service urges persons to seek the facts before making assumptions that discredit the service and question the efforts of our hardworking and dedicated ranks,” the release said.