Latest update April 28th, 2026 12:30 AM
Fire razes Berbice mother’s home
(Kaieteur News) – A mother of seven is now homeless and devastated after fire completely destroyed her Glasgow Housing Scheme home on the East Bank of Berbice on Monday morning, in what fire officials believe was a malicious act.
The blaze erupted just after 10:00hrs at the two-storey wooden and concrete house owned by 45-year-old municipal constable, Tricia Wintz, wiping out the entire structure before anything could be saved.
What is left of the home of the mother of seven following the fire.
According to a neighbor, she was on her veranda when a male passerby sounded an alert that the building nearby was on fire. “When I raise my head and look, I saw dark smoke coming out from inside the house. That is when I run downstairs and call on people that was home here,” the neighbour shared with this publication.
She added that she and others sought to enter the yard but were deterred by the intense heat and did not manage to save anything from Wintz’s home.
Speaking to Kaieteur News, Wintz explained that she was at her place of work as a municipal constable attached to the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) of New Amsterdam, when a teacher who saw her home on fire made contact with her. “I left home after 9, I just step into work. I reached to work late. As I’m about to put down my bag, I get a call. When I answer the phone, this is the news I get. I just put down my bag and turn back,” Wintz disclosed.
Returning from New Amsterdam, she saw the blaze as she was at the entrance of the street to where she lives. Following the incident, Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald told Kaieteur News that the operations room in New Amsterdam received a fire alert from a firefighter who happens to be living in the area. He noted that two tenders were dispatched from New Amsterdam to the location. Upon arrival, firefighters were challenged by thick black fumes and intense heat. By the time the flames were doused, the entire property was already completely destroyed.
McDonald confirmed too, that the fire was maliciously set. In light of that, Wintz disclosed that one of Wintz’s sons who is mentally challenged, was at home when she left. This son would have erratic episodes, she confirmed. Wintz operates a stall a short distance from her home, where she sells snacks and on Monday morning prior to leaving home, she arranged her products and left her eldest son to oversee the business at the head of their street as well as to keep an eye on the mentally-challenged son.
It is not clear if he experienced an outburst and set the house on fire, or might have had an accident. He was referred to the New Amsterdam Psychiatric Hospital subsequent to the incident. Reflecting on what unfolded earlier in the day, Wintz shared hours later that she did not so much as approach the scene up close, owing to significant distress, which ultimately led to her being rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) on the ground.
Monday’s tragedy would not be the first to befall her, as Wintz lost her home more than 16 years ago under similar circumstances. Now homeless, she welcomes any generosity from members of the public who may be desirous of assisting her with rebuilding. Persons can contact her on 645-5725.
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