-More than $1M in savings up in flames

A FAMILY of four was displaced on Friday afternoon when fire, unknown in origin, ripped through their newly-renovated two-storey concrete house at Lot 31A Morocut Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown.

A distraught and weeping Kenneth Herbert told the Guyana Chronicle that it was after lunch and he was sleeping by the door in the top flat of the house when one of his grandchildren woke him up.

It was then he saw a ‘big’ fire in the bedroom and there was nothing he could do but get out the building in the company of the two children.

No one was injured as the blaze quickly consumed the inside of the top flat as he watched from a neighbour’s house.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the scene several fire tenders and scores of firefighters were battling the flames which they managed to contain to that one building thus saving the nearby houses.

The 69-year-old security guard said he was taking a nap in preparation for his night shift later that evening (Friday) and could not say how the fire started. But it was in one of the bedrooms raging when he was aroused.

Herbert, who had to be consoled by neighbours said he lost everything and it was very difficult to watch his house go up in flames.

He estimated his losses to run into millions since they had renovated the house. He also lost the cash which amounted to more than $1M which he was saving for his overseas vacation shortly.

Herbert, his wife Joycelyn and two grandchildren were the only occupants of the house which was completely gutted from the inside. Only the frame was left standing.

According to reports, the children were in the habit of playing with matches and when asked if it could be the children that started the fire, Herbert could not say for sure.

He however admitted that the children used to play with matches but he would hide them away and when he took a nap he would ensure they too slept.

Herbert told the Chronicle that the granddaughter had on a towel when she woke him up and he observed his grandson naked and he surmised that he too had taken a bath.

The Herberts had been living at the house for more than 20 years.