At Canje, Berbice…
A FOOD vendor from Canje, West Berbice was prevented from preparing her delicacies for sale at the Municipal market following a fire which razed her home shortly after 23:00 hrs on Wednesday night, leaving in its wake six persons homeless.
“All my clothes were destroyed…I ran out of the house in my underwear,” lamented a distraught Verone Richardson, who occupied the lower flat of the building with her husband, Brentnol Mingo.
Fortunately, no life was lost but household articles and personal items were destroyed in the blaze which reduced the house to a few charred support beams and a partially destroyed room on the lower flat.
The Police, in collaboration with fire fighters, are investigating the conflagration which occurred at Lot 71 East Canefield, Canje – about one mile east of the Canje Bridge.
Richardson related that prior to the fire, she was peeling cassava which was expected to be used in the preparation of egg and cassava balls.
In the process of peeling the cassava, Richardson said she caught scent of burning materials but on looking outside and not seeing anything, the food vendor said she resumed her task.
“About ten minutes later, Malika [ Barry] , my sister in law, who lived upstairs with my brother, Linden, came knocking at the door, saying that the upper flat was on fire,” Richardson related to the Chronicle.
The woman recalled observing the fire in the vicinity of the bedroom which was occupied by two children, Marissa and Andrew.
“I called out to my neighbours. They formed a bucket brigade. I then telephoned my daughter, Sanatha, who informed ranks at the Central Fire Station in New Amsterdam. The fire brigade from the Rose Hall (sugar) estate also responded. They did their best. I am grateful. It could have been worst, Thank God no life has been lost,” Richardson blurted out.
According to the woman, the blaze was definitely not of an electrical nature as her power supply was disconnected earlier that day.
Richardson told this reporter she will not be living anywhere else as the destroyed building was her home and it would be made habitable as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, when this newspaper visited the area, the homeless woman was at a next door neighbour who had shared their lunch with her, whilst her two dogs laid on the embers of the building, ignoring the invitation for food.