Region Five mechanic left homeless after fire

A mechanic was left homeless on Sunday after a fire destroyed his house and several motorcycles at Plantation Ross, West Coast Berbice.

Leon Fraser, who lived alone at Lot 13, said the blaze started around 1:59 p.m. while he was working on the lower floor of his two-storey, three-bedroom wooden and concrete home. A neighbour alerted him to smoke coming from the upper flat.

“When I went upstairs, I saw one of the mattresses smoking. I tried to pull it out, but it got stuck. By the time I came back to move the wall divider, I was confused and had to leave,” Fraser told the News Room.

The fire quickly spread, destroying his belongings and tools. Fraser said eight motorcycles and one electric bike he was repairing were also damaged.

Neighbours called the Region Five Fire Station, and firefighters managed to prevent the flames from reaching nearby homes.

Fraser estimated his losses in the millions of dollars and appealed for public assistance.