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Millions lost as fire razes Lethem store

Feb 15, 2011 News

– first major fire in 40 years

The absence of fire fighting facilities in the swiftly developing border location of Lethem was lamented yesterday when fire completely destroyed one of the community’s shopping centres, causing millions of dollars in damage.
The fire which started around 18:35 hours was still not completely extinguished up to late last night.
It was the first major one in Lethem for more than 40 years and it flattened the Wayka Store, which is owned by Guyanese Anna Ramsarran, the sister of President of the Lethem Chamber of Commerce Alfred Ramsarran.
But thanks to public-spirited persons the blaze was contained to only one building although at least two other buildings are in the compound.
The residents, assisted by soldiers from the nearby Guyana Defence Force Lethem base, were able to save a number of items including mattresses before the concrete walls of the building caved in as a result of the intense heat.
Reports are that the fire started in a bond in the building that houses a store that sells from footwear to perfumes among other things.
“A little boy saw the fire at the rear of the building but thought that it was garbage burning. But then fire was seen in the building and due to the heavy breeze, it quickly began to consume the inside,” a source in Lethem told this newspaper.
Explosions were heard, apparently as a result of the perfumes and gas cylinders stored in the building.
Kaieteur News understands that when the fire started the proprietors had already left the building having closed for business around 17:30 hours.
They returned to the scene only to collapse in despair at the sight of the huge conflagration that had engulfed the building.
“Now that Lethem is developing at a fast rate, there is definitely a need for a fire service here,” a resident stated.
The origin of the fire is unknown and personnel from the main Fire Department in the city will have to travel to Lethem with the aim of determining its cause.

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