Family loses $60M in Sophia blaze

Apr 07, 2026 News

…MP slams late response by fire service

An overhead shot of the damaged property.

The aftermath of the fire.

(Kaieteur News) – A family-owned home and business, S & L Supermarket at 563 ‘D’ Field Sophia, Georgetown was destroyed by fire on Easter Monday, with all occupants escaping safely, but suffering losses estimated at about $60 million.

Residents said the blaze spread quickly, prompting an immediate response from neighbours who formed bucket brigades in an attempt to contain it.

Charlene Lindie, one of the proprietors, recounted that “everybody start running with buckets, everybody started putting buckets of water on the fire,” while she rushed to cut the electricity, explaining, “I run in back the house to turn off the main switch.” She also confirmed that all occupants, including her mother who is recovering from a stroke, were safely evacuated.

However, Lindie said response from the Guyana Fire Service was delayed by more than an hour. She claimed that when three fire tenders eventually arrived, they initially did not have water to combat the blaze.

Meanwhile, Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Toshana Famey- Corlette of the We Invest in Nationhood party said the reports emerging from Sophia regarding the fire are alarming and unacceptable.

“A family has lost their home and business, with the damage estimated at over $60 million. While we are relieved that no life was lost, the concerns surrounding the emergency response cannot be ignored.”

Business destroyed by fire. (Photos: Credible Sources)

The MP said residents were left to fight the fire themselves, forming bucket brigades while waiting more than an hour for assistance. She said even more disturbing are claims that when the fire tenders eventually arrived, they were not equipped with water to respond immediately.

“This is a serious failure.

With $6.304 billion allocated to the Guyana Fire Service in the 2026 budget, the public is entitled to a system that is prepared, responsive, and fully operational. There can be no justification for multiple fire tenders arriving at an active fire without the basic capacity to act,” the MP said.

She argues that the incident raises urgent questions about response time, readiness, coordination, and accountability.

“We, the people of this nation, demand a full and transparent report on this matter, including exact response timelines, the condition and deployment of equipment, and why firefighters were unable to immediately engage the blaze.”

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fire, Fire Service, S & L Supermarket, Sophia blaze

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