Unattended diyas cause fire at Goed Fortuin

Oct 19, 2009 News

Some unattended diyas may have been responsible for a fire which threatened the domicile of a Goed Fortuin Squatting area, West Bank Demerara, family Saturday night.

A distraught Ramnarine Mahase (second from right)

Reports are that some time after 20:00 hrs, fire was seen emanating from the bottom flat of the two-storey house owned by Ramnarine Mahase, also known as Uncle Reuben. He shares the home with his wife, son, grandson and two granddaughters.
However, early detection and the vigilance of neighbours were instrumental in containing the massive blaze which started in a bedroom.
According to the aged Mahase, it was the assistance of residents that served to put out the fire and saved his home even before the fire service arrived.
He and members of his household had lit some diyas Saturday night to celebrate the Hindu Festival of lights, Diwali. However, he added, his two teenaged granddaughters decided to light a few diyas and left them in a downstairs bedroom before heading upstairs where he was with his wife.
The man recounted that it was soon after the girls reached upstairs that he and his wife started stifling from a sudden burst of smoke which engulfed the top flat.
“Me wife start ask weh all this smoke ah come from…and them grandchildren run downstairs. Then me here them start fuh holla fire, fire. Me start see fire coming up the floor and bun up de mattress up here.”
Mahase related that he too then rushed downstairs and saw fire bellowing out of the bedroom window which is situated at the front of the bottom flat.

The room where the fire started

Recognising the fiery predicament, neighbours immediately commenced a bucket brigade and were successful in putting out the fire. The fire service was also summoned.
When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, the officers of the fire service were completing their final inspection of the property even as neighbours and family members were assisting to remove household items from the bottom flat.
“Them (officers) nah had to do nothing but them still come and check and mek sure everything alright. All what bun up was mattresses and bed but praise God nobody nah get bun. If we nah had these neighbours around to help, this house woulda bun down.”
With the aid of a lantern powered by the electricity supply from a neighbour, Mahase, with the assistance of family members and neighbours, commenced the tedious task of estimating the damage caused by the fire. Almost every item in the bedroom where the fire started was destroyed and a glance above revealed that the flooring was badly scorched.
Meanwhile, the man has expressed his concern about whether his two granddaughters will now be in trouble with the law. “Them nah do it on purpose. Is just light them light up some diyas…This coulda happen to anybody,” asserted Mahase.