THE top flat of a two-storeyed concrete house, at Lot 179 Eleazar Street, Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was gutted by fire around noon yesterday, destroying everything owned by the occupant, Ms. Dionne Callender.
The now homeless housewife was in tears when she told the Guyana Chronicle she was not home when the blaze started, but received a phone call with the distressing news from a relative.
Callender said she rushed to the scene and was allowed on the premises to assess her losses as firefighters wrapped up their work.
Having lived in that city ward for the past 34 years, she expressed appreciation for the quick response by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).
That sentiment was reiterated by a neighbour, who called the GFS after seeing smoke.
“As soon as I called, they came and it was quick work that saved the rest of the house,” that caller said.
Callender’s sister, Ms. Allison Griffith, who resided in the bottom flat, lamented what  happened after her 20-year occupancy.
Most of her belongings were damaged by water the GFS used to save a part of the structure.
Griffith was unsure of how the conflagration started but said she was alerted by screams.
“I saw the smoke and rushed out. We managed to save some things but this is a big loss,” she said, pointing out that she, her six children, sister and brothers reside in the edifice.
They have not yet estimated their total losses but the GFS is continuing investigations into the origin of the disaster.