Fire officials believe that a radio which was “left on” yesterday morning started a blaze at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, which left millions of dollars in damage and two women homeless.
According to Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, it appears as though a radio that was left on in one of the bedrooms on the upper flat malfunctioned. He told this newspaper that this might have caused the radio to overheat resulting in some combustible material near it catching afire.
Gentle noted that no one was at home when the fire started and investigations are continuing.
When Stabroek News arrived at the Lot 129 First Street, Eccles home, relatives were busily clearing the interior of burnt material. The upper flat where the blaze started was completely destroyed while a few items mainly in the kitchen area escaped fire damage.
Allison Roberts, whose daughter and niece occupied the premises, said that it was a neighbour who contacted a relative about the blaze which started around 9 am. She said that apparently the fire started in the second of three bedrooms. According to her, nothing was left plugged in when the occupants left. Roberts could not say if there was a power surge in the area prior to the spotting of smoke.
The woman estimated the losses to be several million dollars.Meanwhile, a resident who lives opposite the destroyed structure recalled seeing thick black smoke coming from the southern side of the house and immediately started yelling for help.The elderly woman said a fire engine arrived promptly and the fire fighter managed to get the blaze which was raging by then, under control.
During this month there have been several fires across the country.
On Sunday a fire of unknown origin destroyed a two-storey building at De Willem, West Coast Demerara, which housed two families and an electronics store.
Ten persons are reported to be homeless as a result of that blaze which started around 9.30 am at Lot 111.
No one was at home when the fire started.
