An early morning fire Monday has left an Eccles, East Bank Demerara family of five homeless. The Guyana Fire Service is still investigating the cause of the fire but the family is claiming it was deliberately set. The fire started just after 09:00h in the lower flat of the two-story house.
The house, owned by Carol Beaton, was recently refurbished and was not insured. Mrs Beaton lived there with her daughter and grandchildren. The family had been living in the area for over 20 years.
The daughter, who is a doctor, said she had just left home for work when she heard about the fire. She said she always checks to ensure no electrical appliance is plugged in when she leaves the house.
When the News Room arrived on the scene, the Fire Service had already managed to contain the blaze but the house and everything inside was destroyed.
“As a result of the fire, the entire building has been destroyed we are still doing an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire,” Dwayne Scotland, Divisional Officer in Charge of Operations told reporters at the scene.
A neighbor, Ivor Jordan, said he was reading inside his house when he heard a woman screaming and upon investigation saw thick black smoke emanating from the lower flat.
Jordan said he rushed to the family’s assistance and managed to get the family out of the yard.
“When I go to the door, downstairs was open and black smoke hit me and I run out back and we raise the alarm and call the Fire Service,” Jordan explained.
