Fire gutted the interior of the lower flat of a Garnett Street home on Sunday night and partially destroyed the upper flat leaving two families devastated and without shelter.

The origin of the blaze is unknown but it started in the lower flat some time around 11 pm while the occupants were asleep. A mad rush to vacate the premises ensued according to fire victim, Gomattie Rambaran and a call was placed to the fire service which responded promptly. Her husband was burnt during a successful attempt to rescue the family car.

The home at Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty ablaze on Sunday night. (Photo by Brenon Sookram)

The fire was confined to the Lot 42 Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty and a nearby house was barely scorched. Rambarran, who resided at the lower flat with her husband, twin boys and two dogs, was thankful yesterday that the family managed to escape. However, she noted that one of her dogs died in the blaze.  “We lost everything, everything”, Rambarran added.

Sharon Munasar occupied the upper flat of the home with her husband and children. The family suffered minimal damages, but the flat is “not suitable for living”, Munasar said. The home belonged to her husband’s parents who are now deceased, the family is not sure whether the building was insured because another brother is holding the papers for the house.