Major disaster averted at Lusignan as building goes up in flames

A major disaster was averted at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, on Monday evening as firefighters managed to control a blaze that destroyed a building that was used by a Legal Marriage Officer.

The News Room understands that the building, located on the northern side of the public road, was occupied by Joe Mohammed, the Legal Officer and Jamalodeen Mohamed, a welder.

Haimchandra Persaud, a Divisional Officer, told reporters at the scene that the Central Fire Station received a report of the fire at about 20:55hrs.

Subsequently, three fire engines were immediately dispatched from the Melanie, Campbellville and Alberttown fire stations.

Persaud said that there was “a full response” anticipating that it would’ve been a large fire.

The fire was contained to the building of origin. Luckily it did not spread to the neighbouring BM Soat Auto Sales to the east and a Chinese operated glass factory to the west.

Based on preliminary reports, the Divisional Officer said it appears the fire was electrical in nature.

He related that one eyewitness said that when power returned after an outage, sparks were seen and an explosion was heard.

Investigations continue.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, who was at the scene, continued to urge businesses to install appropriate fire prevention systems to prevent against such adverse events.