Eleven persons homeless after Covent Garden fire

Almost a dozen persons were displaced and several others affected after a fire of electrical origin gutted two Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) house on Tuesday.

The fire started at around 12:38hrs at Lot 99 Second Street, Covent Garden, EBD.

The two-storey house was owned by Babita Persaud. She and six others lived there.

According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), an investigation revealed that the fire was caused by an overheated electrical circuit, which was arching and sparking before igniting with combustible materials.

Immediately after receiving the call, the GFS said several water tenders and carriers were dispatched to the scene.

However, upon their arrival, firefighters noticed that the building of origin was already engulfed in flames.

By the time the fire was extinguished, the GFS said it was discovered that due to the radiated heat, the fire spread to a nearby building at Lot 100 Second Street, Covent Garden, EBD.

That house was occupied by four persons. It was owned by Bisnauth Ramcholock.

Additionally, several louvre window panes, the nortern wall, and a quantity of house items from another two-storey building, which is occupied by eleven persons, was also destroyed as a result of the fire, the GFS said.

While, two motor cars were also destroyed.