Latest update November 13th, 2024 1:00 AM
Fire destroys three properties in two separate fires, thirty homeless
Kaieteur News – Separate early morning fires yesterday, destroyed three properties in the City, leaving 30 persons homeless.
Scenes from Tucville fire. [ Joseph Allen photos]
Scenes from the Durban Street fire. [Joseph Allen photos]
The fires occurred hours apart- the first at Durban and George Streets begun around 01:00Hrs while the second in Tucville took place around 08:57Hrs.
According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) the fire that destroyed the vulcanizing shop and the house nearby, was caused by a suspected arson attack, while the second blaze at Tucville, was of electrical origin.
Kevin Phillips, the owner of the vulcanizing shop stated that around 01:00hrs he was awakened by his barking dogs. Phillips further stated that upon checking, he noticed two persons riding away on a motorcycle from his home. Moments later the man said he heard his neighbour shouting, “fire, fire,” and that’s when he noticed his building was ablaze.
According to the GFS report, the fire first gutted Phillips’ two-storey wooden building and resulted in the entire building and contents being destroyed – the losses are estimated in millions. Kaieteur News understands that firefighters managed to control the flames and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings, but not before it destroyed a neighbouring house which, displacing a Venezuelan family of 20. Two buildings that were saved are Elegance Jewelry and Pawn Shop, and Chris Auto Spares and Sales – both suffered minor damages on their western walls.
Kaieteur News understands that Phillips lived on the top floor of his vulcanizing shop, with his family of six others, meaning a total of 27 persons are homeless from that fire.
As it relates to the second blaze at Tucville, it completely destroyed a house and slightly damaged two nearby buildings. GFS reported that an electrical fan that was left plugged in and unattended, reportedly overheated, igniting combustible materials nearby to start a fire. As a result of the blaze, three persons were left homeless.
Kaieteur News understands that Deon Richards, a mechanic with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was at home when the fire started. Richards was only able to grab his son and rush out of the home before the fire spread.
Investigation into both fires is ongoing.
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