A Canefield, East Canje family of eight is now homeless after a morning fire completely destroyed their home.

The Jaman house in ruins

The fire which started around 8 am yesterday was discovered by a neighbour. The fire was said to have started in the front bedroom of the home but soon spread engulfing the entire three-bedroom structure.

Sandra Jaman, the wife of the owner of the home and his mother had to be rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital after they collapsed on seeing their home on fire. Both women reportedly suffer from hypertension.

The owner of the home, Tejo Jaman, was at work at GuySuCo when he got the news of fire at his home. When approached by this newspaper, he was too shocked and traumatized to speak.

According to Jaman’s brother-in-law, Rishiram Samaroo, the house was fully furnished and by the time the fire was discovered nothing could have been done to save anything from the home except a refrigerator that was in the downstairs kitchen of the home.

The losses could not be estimated.
Samaroo said he was disappointed that a fire truck from the New Amsterdam Fire Station showed up without water.
A bucket brigade had been formed by neighbours, but this proved futile.

Jaman’s son-in law, who is visiting from the US, was scheduled to leave Guyana tomorrow but all of his documents including money were destroyed in the fire.

Meanwhile, two residents of the same street said they believed that the fire was of electrical origin since a number of Guyana Power and Light meters situated on homes throughout the street “blow since eight months now”.

According to Deodat Tikchand who resides next to the Jaman home, his meter, bulbs in the home and a few of his appliances were destroyed owing to the fluctuations in electricity and high voltage.

Another resident, Nadanand Deonarine, said that several complaints and visits were made to the power company to no avail despite threats to sue the company if further damage occurred.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire.