A Friday morning fire destroyed two houses at Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice, leaving several families homeless.
Jeffery Fraser of Lot 99 Sheet Anchor explained that he left home to buy a meal. He stated that he observed smoke around 11:30 hours while walking home. He initially thought it was nothing, but upon closer inspection, he confirmed his house was on fire.
The wooden and concrete structure housed two bedrooms and was occupied by Fraser, his wife, and three children. Frasher broke down in tears, stating he is now contemplating their next move.
“Everything we had in the house burned up,’’ he declared.
Approximately 30 minutes later, the intense heat and flames spread to a neighbouring house, owned by Phulmattie Madramootoo.
Phulmattie recalled cooking when she noticed smoke coming from next door. She recalled rushing to investigate the matter and confirmed Fraser’s house was on fire.
With the help of a neighbour, they managed to rescue Fraser’s four-year-old son from the burning building.
Phulmattie, who lives in a three-bedroom house with her son, said, “Me repair the house the other day and buy three new beds and a wall wardrobe. Meh son gold chain worth half a million dollars burn up deh; all me furniture. Everything new me buy in there.”
Phulmattie is now contemplating her next steps.
Berbice Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald stated that firefighters at the New Amsterdam Fire Station were alerted to the fire at 11:57 hours, and two fire tenders responded immediately. Upon arrival, one building was already destroyed, and another was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters immediately launched an offensive firefighting operation to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures.
McDonald confirmed that an investigation so far suggests that the fire started after a child played with matches, igniting the flames, which rapidly consumed the building.
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