Bath Settlement fire leaves family of five homeless

Jun 26, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – A two-year-old boy’s persistent knocking on a bathroom door may have saved his mother’s life — moments before a Thursday morning fire reduced their family’s two-storey home at Waterloo Street, Bath Settlement, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to ash, leaving five people without shelter.

The blaze broke out just after 10:00am and consumed the wooden and concrete structure — which had stood for more than 20 years — within minutes.

Bibi Fareena Wahab, 20, was bathing when her toddler son began rapping on the door. “He called two times — ‘mammy, mammy’ — but he can’t talk properly,” she recalled. “I barely wrapped up with a towel. When I came out, all I could see was smoke. I grabbed him and I ran out. I couldn’t do anything.”

Bath Settlement fire leaves family of five homeless

The destroyed Bath Settlement home

Wahab said it was the urgency in her son’s tone that compelled her to stop and check on him.

Neighbours heard the commotion and rushed to help, but the fire moved faster. “I hollered for help, the neighbours came out, but nothing could save it. I lost everything. I don’t know what I will do now,” Wahab said.

Bibi Fareena Wahab and her mother in-law, Jasoda after the fire

The home belonged to Jasoda, 56, who along with her husband spent most of their time working in the Mahaicony Creek, visiting the Bath Settlement property on weekends. Her son Dhanraj Arnold, 32, his wife Wahab, and their young child had been living there for three years.

“Only yesterday I was here. My daughter called me this morning and told me the house was on fire. I caught a boat and came out. By the time I arrived, everything was already burnt,” she said.

Arnold, a construction worker and block maker, was at work when he received the news. He returned to find he had lost three electric generators valued at over $130,000, a motorcycle worth $270,000, a grass-cutting machine, and an assortment of tools. The family also lost beds, wardrobes, multiple refrigerators, appliances, and important documents — with only a handful of partially damaged papers salvaged from the ruins.

Divisional Fire Officer, Clive McDonald told Kaieteur News that preliminary findings suggest a child playing with matches may have ignited the blaze. The family, however, disputes this, saying there were no matches on the premises.

McDonald confirmed that a fire tender from Onverwagt Fire Station was dispatched and was not far from the scene, but by the time crews arrived, the structure was already largely destroyed.

No injuries were reported.

The family is appealing to members of the public for assistance as they begin the process of rebuilding. Those wishing to help can contact them at 648-6498.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Bath Settlement, fire, Homeless, Waterloo Street

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