Family counting its losses after Edinburgh fire

A family is counting its losses after fire gutted a two-storey wooden and concrete house at Lot 1 Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, on Monday morning.

Zalema Ally told reporters that she was in bed at around 07:30 hours when she noticed smoke coming from the building. She immediately went to investigate and discovered that the blaze had started on the lower flat.

Ally said the lower flat was occupied by a tenant who had been living there for more than four years but was not at home when the fire started.

The New Amsterdam Fire Station was alerted at approximately 07:39 hours and firefighters responded to the scene.

According to Ally, the upper flat, where she lived with her reputed husband, was well furnished and contained four bedrooms. The lower flat had one bedroom.

“It was a well furnished home, and there is a lot of losses including cash and documents,” Ali recounted.

Ally’s reputed husband was also not at home when the fire broke out, leaving the family now uncertain about their next step following the destruction of their home.

Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald told the News Room that the fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault. Investigations into the incident are continuing.