Millions in losses after fire destroys Mon Repos storage bond

The proprietors of Highway 401 Furniture Store are counting their losses, estimated in the millions, after a fire destroyed their storage bond at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday afternoon.

The fire reportedly started around 13:00 hrs and quickly engulfed the two-storey building, which was used to store furniture, mattresses and household appliances. Within a short time, flames spread throughout the entire structure, leaving little standing.

The Guyana Fire Service responded with two fire tenders. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings. Despite their efforts, the storage facility was completely destroyed.

Speaking with reporters at the scene, proprietor Nazim Khan said workers were cleaning the bond following the holidays when the fire started.

“I think they had a bee nest or something and they were trying to light it, smoke it out, and they didn’t realise the branches were dry,” Khan explained.

His daughter, Saudia Khan, confirmed that this was not the first fire involving the building.

“I think about 20 years ago we had a similar fire, and I believe that was electrical,” she said. Khan added that an earlier fire occurred when the building was under different ownership.

The family estimates their losses to be in the millions, noting that a container of furniture and household appliances had recently arrived and was being stored in the bond.

“We won’t give an estimate for the money… of course it’s in the millions,” Nazim said.

Residents in the area described chaotic scenes as the fire spread rapidly.

A neighbour, Natasha Boodhoo told the News Room she was only alerted when residents rushed into her yard asking for buckets of water.

“By the time the guys came outside with the buckets of water, the fire had already spread through the entire bond,” she said.

Boodhoo explained that residents worked together to soak her house and other neighbouring buildings in an effort to prevent the fire from spreading. Despite those efforts, she said her water tank was damaged, windows were shattered and gutters were affected.

“The fire truck, they worked fast and they tried to control the fire,” Boodhoo said.

Investigators from the Guyana Fire Service have since launched a probe to determine the exact cause of the fire.