A retired overseer lost his life in an early morning fire which destroyed his three-bedroom wooden and concrete home at Kildonan, Corentyne, Berbice.
According to information reaching the News Room, at about 02:30 hours this morning (Monday, April 10, 2017), neighbours were awakened by screams for help coming from the home of 82-year-old Rudolph Ross.
They rushed out, but by the time anyone could render assistance the entire upper flat of the building was engulfed in flames.
The elderly man was at home alone at the time of the fire.
An eyewitness Brian Jackson, told the News Room that he was in his bed when he heard screams. He noted that when he rushed out, he saw a huge flame at the back of the deceased’s home while screams were coming from a room at the front of the house.
Jackson disclosed that it was impossible for anyone to gain access to the house and persons were left to watch as the flames engulfed the building while the cry for help suddenly stopped. He said after realising that the lone occupant had died, residents started focusing their attention on saving the nearby buildings.
Efforts were also made to get in contact with the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) which arrived almost an hour after.
News Room was told that following the fire, the deceased son who lives with him but was not at home at the time of the fire, arrived at the location and has since been taken into custody for questioning.
The Guyana Fire Service is yet to determine the cause of the fire.
