IN a devastating turn of events on Monday morning, a fire of unknown origin tore through two longstanding businesses in Corriverton, Berbice, leaving owners grappling with substantial losses.

The blaze, which ignited in a two-storey wooden building, quickly engulfed Mahin and Son Upholstery Works before spreading to the adjacent Ritz Hotel, Restaurant, and Bar. As flames ravaged the structures, a third building suffered significant scorching.

Mahendra Persaud, 54, owner of the upholstery establishment, recounted the harrowing moment when he first noticed the smoke.

“I was stitching and smelled smoke, so I thought someone was burning garbage outside,” Persaud stated. “But when I went out and came back in, I saw smoke inside. When I opened the door, there was bare fire.”

Despite his efforts to extinguish the flames, Persaud was unable to contain the inferno. With the assistance of a customer, he salvaged only a single machine and a few rolls of upholstery. Devastatingly, Persaud’s building was reduced to ashes. “I collected advances from people, plus I recently bought materials, all gone,” he lamented, tears welling in his eyes. Additionally, Persaud sustained minor burns to his foot during the ordeal.

The Guyana Fire Service swiftly responded to the emergency after receiving an alert at 09:34 hours. Firefighters from the Corriverton Fire Station, aided by crews from Rose Hall, arrived at the scene to find one building destroyed and another engulfed in flames. Despite their efforts, the blaze had already caused extensive damage.

Meanwhile, Kamaldea Othra, 62, affectionately known as “Rita,” owner of the Ritz Hotel, recounted her own experience with the fire.

Othra was enjoying a morning cup of coffee on the lower floor of her three-storey building when her granddaughter alerted her to smoke seeping through the windows. Rushing outside, Othra witnessed thick, dark smoke billowing from the neighbouring premises. As flames spread through the wooden ceilings of her hotel, Othra evacuated the building to ensure her safety.

The Ritz Hotel has been an integral part of the Corriverton community for many years, making its destruction all the more heartbreaking for locals. As firefighters battled the blaze, residents of Springlands gathered, watching in despair as two beloved businesses succumbed to the flames, leaving behind millions of dollars in damages.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, as both business owners grapple with the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from the ashes of this tragic incident.