SEPARATE fires, last Thursday night, partly destroyed two dwelling houses and left several persons homeless. The first occurred at Lot 9 Norton Street, Georgetown, suspected to have been caused by a child playing with matches. That disaster cost a couple and two children their home.
Martin Dey, who lives in the yard and operates a small business in front, told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the destruction took place about 19:00 h Thursday.
He said he heard his sister-in-law screaming and, when he rushed to the scene, he saw the apartment already ablaze.
According to him, a two-year-old boy had been playing with matches on a bed and his mother was in the bathroom at the time.
Dey said his sister-in-law lived in the house with his brother, Esmond Dey and their two children.
He said several neighbours went to render assistance but could not have prevented the burning although he gave much credit to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) for responding promptly.
Dey, however, blamed his sister-in-law’s negligence for causing matches to be left within the child’s reach. He said the same child lit a match before but with no dire consequences.
This time, though, everything was destroyed, including furniture, clothes, cameras, a computer and materials he was to use for completing other people’s upholstery works.
He now has to find money to replace them or hope that his customers would understand the circumstances.
The other blaze took place about 22:00 h the same night, at Lot 336 Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, resulting in two persons losing their residence.
Kevin Madho, 16 and his brother, Chandra Shekar Madho, 30, were living there but were visiting their mother at Mon Repos, also on East Coast Demerara, when the tragedy struck.
Their mother, Anera Mmohamed called ‘Pinky’ said the cause is unknown but it devoured everything her sons owned. She said the siblings are very poor and would find it difficult to restart their lives.
She, too, commended the GFS for its prompt attention.