Fire that destroyed home of Journalist caused by unattended gas stove – Fire Service

Hours after a fire destroyed the home of Sports Journalist Rawle Welch, the Guyana Fire Service in a statement said the fire was “supposedly caused by a lit six burner gas stove left unattended.”

As a result of the fire, three families are now left homeless; one person suffered first degree burns and a second house owned by Julius Browne is severely damaged. The first floor of Browne’s house was completely destroyed.

The second floor also suffered damage and was occupied by Kevin Allicock, a national boxer and athlete along with his family.

Allicock said his mother was sleeping and was awakened by the smoke. He had left the house to go pick up his daughter from school when he received the call about the fire.

“I was riding down the road like crazy just to get here to see what I can save, but unfortunately I couldn’t save anything,” Allicock said.

Rawle’s wife, Cecile Welch received first degree burns to her right hand and right foot. Welch lived with his family Cecile, Jamaal Welch, Janelle Welch, Christon Welch and Azaria Welch.

The Fire Service said she was assisted by the Emergency Medical Technicians at the scene and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Rawle explained that he had just left his house to pick up his son from work when he received the call about the fire.

“I’m glad to know my family is intact.

“More than half my life I lived there, I gotta sit down and discuss with my wife what is the next move from here, we lost everything,” Rawle told reporters at the scene.

The Fire Service reported that the call about the fire was received at about 15:35hrs on Thursday.

“A team of eight firefighters led by Section Leader Liverpool arrived on the scene at 15:43 hrs. The crew deployed two jets working from tank supply to extinguish the fire but unfortunately the initial building and its contents, which measured approximately 12 by 8 meters, was destroyed,” the Fire Service said.

Meanwhile, the Fire Service appealed to the general public to ensure that all gas cylinders are turned off when not in use and to desist from leaving gas stoves unattended when in use.

“We urge the public to equip your homes with smoke detectors, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers, and to have an evacuation plan in the event of a fire.”