The remains of the house following the fire
The structure was a two-storey wooden and concrete building.
“The purported cause of the fire is malicious setting by person(s) unknown,” the report noted.
The fire service said it has noted an increase in arson attacks and is advising citizens to not make it easy for an arsonist to start a fire or for an outdoor fire to spread to other buildings.
The following are some preventative tips for you to reduce malicious fires:
- Keep garbage, litter, leaves, firewood, overgrown brush and shrubbery, and other combustibles away from buildings.
- Lock all doors and windows in garages, cars and unoccupied buildings.
- Install outdoor lighting, including motion sensor lights, on all sides of your property.
- Board up abandoned buildings and clean the area of litter and debris.
- Securely store combustibles such as paint, gasoline, and oil in proper flammable storage containers in a locked location to restrict access. Minimize the quantity of combustibles in storage and dispose of materials you don’t need.
- Report suspicious activity near houses or other buildings to the Guyana Fire Service or Guyana Police Force.
- Get to know your neighbours – together you can keep a watchful eye on your community.
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach and out of sight of children.
- If you know or suspect that an arson crime has been committed, contact the Guyana Fire Service or Guyana Police Force immediately.
