Fire destroys Kaneville house, three homeless

Jan 14, 2016 News

Carpenter Lennox Clarke, his wife Carol, and their adopted daughter Nizanne, are now homeless after fire destroyed their lot 356, Fourth Street, Second Red Road Kaneville, East Bank Demerara home yesterday.

Fire fighters at work in the destroyed building.

Believed to be of electrical origin, the fire started just after 13:00hrs and completely burnt out the one flat, three-bedroom building.
Despite the fire fighters’ efforts, “nothing was saved,” said Clarke as he contemplated his family’s next move.
The man who had resided at the location for about 19 years was not at home when the fire started but rushed there after receiving a telephone message that his house was on fire. The house was not insured.
His wife was home alone when the fire began. She reported that she smelt something burning in the front bedroom.
Investigations revealed that the fuse box was on fire and during her efforts to fight the flame she received burns to her left arm.
Burnell Marks, a resident of the Kaneville community, said that from where he lives he saw black plumes of smoke and first dismissed it as someone burning tyres. “Then I hear somebody say watch black smoke and when I skip two set of fences my theory soon changed when I come and see the fire in progress,” the man recalled.

Gutted: what remains of lot 356 Fourth Street, Second Red Road Caneville, East Bank Demerara. (Inset) Fire victim: House Owner Lennox Clarke.

Gutted: What remains of lot 356 Fourth Street, Second Red Road Kaneville, East Bank Demerara. (Inset) Fire victim: House Owner Lennox Clarke.

Clarke said with the help of other neighbours despite the growing flames and the heat emanating from the building he rushed into the yard in an effort to see what he could retrieve from the building but that was an effort in futility.
“The fire was too much and the people seh let we leave the place alone but the car was in the yard and the fire had began to scorch the vehicle left side.”
However, in his determination to save the car he used a nearby stone to shatter the right side window and with the help of others, who braved the heat, pushed the car out of the yard.
“I was determined to save it or it could have exploded and caused more damage to the neighbour’s house,” the man detailed while perspiration dripped from his half exposed body. The car is a C32 Laurel.
Another neighbour confirmed that Clarke’s wife, Carol was at home when the fire started in the bedroom and that she was burnt to her left hand which saw her being rushed for medical attention.
“It started in the front bedroom in a fuse box,” she said.
From all accounts, by the time the fire engine arrived at the scene the building was already far gone. However, their efforts prevented a spread to the neighbour’s house. “Because the fire engine take some time to come, we had to soak the place with gutter water.”
Amongst the contents of the house destroyed was a licence shotgun. Yesterday’s fire brings to four buildings destroyed by fire thus far for the year. (By Mondale Smith)