Fire ruins lower flat of Queenstown house

Jan 18, 2013 News

A mid-afternoon fire of unknown origin yesterday destroyed the lower flat of a two-storey house at Lot 29 Anira Street, Queenstown. The blaze started around 13:30hrs.

According to reports, the building was shared by Peter Brhamdeow and his son, Shaun.

The older man occupied the upper flat of the property while his son lived in the bottom flat which also housed a barbershop.

At the time of the fire, the younger Brhamdeow was not at home, but his nephew, Dwaine Brhamdeow, who was at the barbershop, said that he saw smoke emerging from his uncle’s apartment and he immediately called the fire service, which arrived promptly.

“After I see the fire, I called the fire service and then we try to prevent the fire from spreading,” said Dwaine.

The fire is believed to have started on a mattress. However, fire fighters are now trying to determine its cause. Kaieteur News was unable to ascertain the extent of the losses Shaun Brhamdeow might have suffered.

Peter Brhamdeow told Kaieteur News that he was heading home, when his grandson informed him of the fire. “I hurry and I went and try to throw water on the flooring so that the fire wouldn’t spread upstairs and then I move all the clothes that could have caused more fire.”

Meanwhile, neighbours praised the Fire Service for arriving promptly.

“Most of the time people bad talk the fire service but thanks to them, the fire didn’t cause much damage and we still have a house,” a neighbour said.

“We received a call that there is a fire and we responded with three appliances, one from Alberttown and two from the Central Fire Service. When we arrived here the entire bottom flat of the building was engulfed in flames. We broke in and found the mattress on fire. Now we have to investigate what caused it,” said Alberttown Fire Service Officer, Compton Sparman.