A faulty electrical connection caused overheating of electrical wires which led to combustible materials igniting and destroying a three-storey building at Lyng Street, Charlestown, Georgetown Wednesday night.
This was revealed by the Guyana Fire Service on Friday.
The wood and concrete building housed 15 persons.
“Slack connection to electrical points, caused overheating, thus resulting in a breakdown of the installation, leading to arcing and sparking and the subsequent ignition of nearby combustible materials,” the Fire Service statement noted.
The fire which started just after 19:00hrs was extinguished at 0:20hrs.
Residents, on the night of the fire, said the fire service responded promptly but did not have a water supply. The Fire Chief Gregory Wickham explained that fire tenders “always” show up at scenes with water. However, he said the supply per tender would be exhausted “quickly”.
By the time the fire was extinguished, the building and its contents were destroyed.
A nearby building was severely damaged by the fire. The GPF said a television set, a stereo set, a refrigerator, and a section of the southern internal were affected. Meanwhile, other items, including another TV, a fan, and a number of windows and walls, were slightly scorched due to radiated heat from the building of origin.
Two additional buildings, a motor car and a motorcycle were also damaged as a result of radiated heat.
Further, the GFS has said it will continue its efforts to provide excellent service countrywide. It adds that fire safety and prevention involves each citizen, and implored all to be vigilant, practice fire safety, and equip homes with warning devices (smoke detectors and fire alarms) and fire suppression tools (fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguisher balls).
A list of other tips to protect homes from electrical fires includes:
- Do not overload outlets.
- Do not use illegal connections.
- Do not put electrical cords over curtains , underneath rugs or pin them behind furniture.
- Plug heat-generating appliances directly into an outlet, not into a power strip or extension cord.
- Have a licensed electrician review your home’s electrical system every ten years. Small upgrades and safety checks can prevent larger problems.
- Charge laptops and phones only on hard surfaces, not on beds or sofas.
- Disconnect charging equipment when devices are fully charged. Overcharging can lead to battery fires.
- Unplug electrical devices and appliances when not in use.
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Photo: backend of the fire
