New tenant loses home in Cummings Lodge fire

Jan 13, 2017 News

Days after she rented a building at Fifth Field Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, 23-year-old trainee teacher, Maria Barjoan, returned home some time around noon yesterday to find her abode up in flames.

Fire fighter battling fire deposits in the ceiling of the Sookrams’ home.

The grief-stricken woman, formerly of Region Nine (Upper Takatu/Upper Essequibo), told Kaieteur News that she had only moved in to the building on Tuesday.
Barjoan said she had rented the building since it was within walking distance of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) where she is scheduled to commence classes shortly.
Along with the 23-year-old, three other persons lived in the building: her two aunts and a cousin.
Barjoan said that she is clueless to what might have caused the blaze and is even more clueless about where she and her family are going stay for the night.
Meanwhile, her landlord, Sookram (only name given), who resides with his family of five, is also contemplating his next move since the fire had spread to his home – which is located on the northern side of the yard.
When this publication arrived on scene yesterday, it was observed that several parts of his house were destroyed as his family with the aid of neighbours, began to empty the two-storey building.
When contacted yesterday, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, said that the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) began receiving reports of a fire shortly after noon.
Units from the Campbellville Fire Station were dispatched and arrived on scene a few minutes later. He added that there were some challenges since the road leading to the blaze was not “conducive” and when the fire fighters arrived, the building at the back was already down.
He stressed also, the challenge of obtaining water support as he again pointed to the condition of the road.
The fire truck had to resort to a nearby trench to refill before returning to the blaze.
Based on initial investigations, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said that the fire began from the building at the back and spread to the Sookrams’ house. The origin of the fire is still unknown, he said, as investigations are still ongoing.
The incident would occur one day after an estimated $50M in consumable medical supplies were destroyed after a mysterious fire destroyed a bond at the Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara.

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