| At around 6:00 hrs yesterday morning, a fire of unknown origin gutted the upstairs section of the recently built two-storey concrete house of Joy Martin, at Lot 94 David Rose Street, Bagotville, on the West Bank of Demerara.Speaking with Kaieteur News, Martin explained that she was doing her household chores when some neighbourhood children informed her that smoke was emanating from an upstairs window of her home. “The child told me that he had seen a lot of smoke coming out of the window from one of the rooms upstairs,” explained Martin.The upstairs section of the house was completely gutted by the fire.She said that she immediately ran upstairs, only to discover that the walls of the room from where the smoke was coming had already been scorched so badly that they were ‘black.’ Martin said that she tried to extinguish the flames using water.By this time, neighbours and public-spirited citizens had come to help her battle the blaze. They formed a bucket brigade, but the blaze soon got out of control. One of Martin’s neighbours, Mark Husbands, who is a member of the Guyana Fire Service, summoned the fire tender, which arrived promptly.However, despite its best efforts, the upstairs section of the house was completely gutted. There was also considerable water damage to the house.Husbands explained that the efforts of the neighbours were essential, as they managed to remove some articles of furniture.Martin said that she is not sure what her next move will be, as all of her clothing and personal effects had perished in the fire. However, she said that she is “trusting in the Almighty,” adding that God would take care of her.Her husband, Deryck Martin, who is at Bartica, has been informed of the disaster.Neighbours are of the view that the fire may be electrical in origin since, earlier in the morning, the area was experiencing power surges. |
