Two children die in Hadfield Street fire

-caused by a flambeau lamp

Two children died in a Hadfield Street fire last evening, which was reportedly caused by a flambeau lamp. The deceased are 3-year-old Ewan Munroe and one-year-old Isaiah Munroe of Lot Q Hadfield Street. The two children lived in a small shack with their parents Keiron Munroe and Anita Ramdeo, this newspaper was told.

 In happier times, the two boys pose with their father.  At left is one-year old Isaiah and at right is 3-year-old Ewan.
In happier times, the two boys pose with their father. At left is one-year old Isaiah and at right is 3-year-old Ewan.

According to a relative only the boys and their mother were at home at the time of the incident. He explained that the fire started at about 8.05 pm and lasted for a short space of time.  According to him, the area was experiencing a power outage at the time, and the children were in the shack where their mother had lit a flambeau lamp. He said that a short while after, the home was up in flames.  When asked about the exact location of the children’s mother at the time of the incident, relatives and neighbours told this newspaper “She was around.”

After an alarm was raised, public spirited citizens and the mother tried to rescue the children but their efforts were in vain.

One child was pulled out of the fire but he was already dead, while the other was burnt inside the house in spite of efforts to get him out.

Stabroek News was told that the fire service arrived promptly and that they were instrumental in containing the blaze.

The entrance to the shack the two boys lived in with their parents.
The entrance to the shack the two boys lived in with their parents.

Reports are that after the mother discovered that her sons had died she fled the scene.

The child’s father is a police officer in training while the mother is not employed.  The grandmother of the boys is Cheryl Munroe, who lived in the same compound with the family.  She was not present when the fire started and when she and her other relatives returned home, there was an emotional outpouring over the loss of their loved ones.

Neighbours were also deeply affected and they were  lamenting the plight of the children’s mother. One neighbour remarked sadly, “She dey talking about buying dem children kite tomorrow but now look wha happen.”