-Investigation to be completed today

by Naomi Parris
AN investigation into a fire which started in the empty lot that once housed the old Sachi building on Regent Street, Georgetown, has so far pointed to electrical issues, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told the Guyana Chronicle.

Gentle in an update on Monday told the Guyana Chronicle that the investigation into the fire is moving apace and a report should be completed today.
The fire chief disclosed that several persons have been interviewed by ranks of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to determine the cause of the fire. It was earlier reported that it was the Sachi building that was burnt down again, but this publication was made to understand that the owners had erected a tent in the empty lot and were selling toys and other items.
On Sunday night, the fire chief said a report was received around 20:30hrs that someone was burning garbage in the empty lot and the firefighters called for back-up.
It is believed that the fire spread to Singh’s Electronics World and completely destroyed the building. But the fire service is now investigating a faulty electrical installation at the “tent” erected by Sachi’s.

“It’s going along right now, the owners are being interviewed as we speak and we had electrical inspectors out there. Right now we are trying to ascertain if that construction or contraption that Sachi did, if it was sanctioned by the city engineers,” the fire chief said.
He said evidence was found to indicate that the fire may have been electrical in nature.

“We saw evidence of maybe some mischief electrical wiring that was done,” Gentle said, adding, “We are working along with the government electrical inspector now and we are in the process of interviewing them; we should complete this investigation by midday [today].”

The response of firefighters on Sunday night was hampered by a hydrant which was heavily covered by debris. Three water hydrants and the canals between South Road and Croal Street were used to access water in order to extinguish the fire. The team from the fire service managed to contain the fire to Singh’s Electronics World and stopped it from spreading to the neighbouring Dhoray building.
The Sachi store was ravaged by fire in February this year and was completely gutted.