PROMPT and efficient intervention by the New Amsterdam Fire Service on Friday, following a report of a fire at Budhan Scheme, West Canje Berbice, successfully prevented the destruction of a two-storey concrete structure.
Tomica Roach, a 37-year-old resident of Lot 12 Budhan Scheme, reported that she received information about a fire at her home sometime after 13:00 hours. “I was on the road when my brother called and I didn’t think much of it because I know I was at home earlier and everything was okay and we does always get grass fire around the area.”

Notwithstanding, Roach reported rushing back to her residence, only to discover a section of the ground floor apartment engulfed in flames, while the upper floor was heavily smoke-filled. “The Fire Service was here, they had already break down the door and they started to out the fire.”
While the lower flat of the house along with the furnishings were damaged in the inside, the firefighters who worked swiftly were able to completely save the two-storey building.

“It’s a two bedroom, kitchen, bath dining everything downstairs and upstairs is three bedrooms, everything damage on the inside downstairs “, Roach, who resided with her husband and two children in the lower flat explained.
According to her, her mother, sister and nephew occupied the upper flat of the premises.

The emotional woman said, “I must thank God for life because if it wasn’t for God we would have lost the house, repairs can be done and I am grateful for the swift action of the Guyana Fire Service, they really acted fast, they tried to calm the situation, GPL, the police, everybody was here, the ambulance, EMT, everybody was here, I’m grateful everybody came.”

Meanwhile, Clive McDonald, Regional Commander of the Fire Service, explained that they received a call around 13:20 hours on Friday of the situation “and immediately two tenders responded, upon arrival the crew observed flames and smoke emanating from the ground floor of the structure and they immediately went into the offensive mode of firefighting and extinguished the fire just downstairs in a room.”

McDonald further explained that the room where the fire is suspected to have started suffered extensive damage while “due to the heat other parts of the ground floor and the paint works to the wall” and other sections and items were slightly damaged.
According to him, it is suspected that the fire was electrical in nature, pointing out that there “were some electrical issues at a bulb area.”
McDonald noted that credit must also be given to the neighbors who were very alert of the situation and drove to the fire service station in New Amsterdam to inform them of same. “I want to extend thanks to the neighbors who were alert and able to alert the fire service and also my ranks that went into action immediately. It was good work by the crew.”