AROUND 04:00hrs on Friday, the Guyana Fire Service swiftly responded to a distress call reporting a building on fire at West Half Plot OBAZ, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

In a press release, the fire service said that Water Carrier #16 and Water Tender #105, carrying 1703 litres of water, along with their crews, were immediately dispatched to the scene.

“Personnel, including Leading Fireman Legal; Leading Fireman Petrie and five others encountered a wooden and concrete two-storey building engulfed in flames and immediately commenced firefighting operations.

Tragically, the sole occupant and owner, Moses Elias, aged 84, perished in the fire.
Despite the valiant efforts of the firefighting crews, the building and its contents were completely destroyed,” the release added.

According to the fire service, the cause of the fire is suspected to be arson, with the perpetrator(s) currently unknown.

The fire was extinguished utilising one jet from Water Carrier #16 and two jets from Light Pump #126, via an open water source.