By Gaulbert Sutherland
A massive fire raced through a section of Regent Street yesterday afternoon destroying four buildings and obliterating millions in stock, as fire-fighters braved the inferno with limited resources.
The conflagration erupted at the Regent Household Electronics store, between Albert and Light streets where persons witnessed the wire leading to the building sparking before flames fanned out, aided by strong winds. The nearby DM Sales Beauty World store was also gutted though some stock on the ground floor appeared to have escaped intact. Two houses at the back of these buildings were destroyed while nearby structures in Georgetown’s major commercial district suffered substantial damage. Working with limited water, leaking hoses and assisted by public-spirited citizens, firemen battled valiantly for hours before the fire was brought under control.
At about 4:50pm yesterday, employees at the M. Umraow and Sons store opposite Household Electronics said they noticed the wire that connects that building to the electricity post, sparking. This section of the wire is attached to the building before it runs down to the meter. “It catch on the wire first, started sparking, and… it start spread on the wire into the building”, said one woman. She said that the flames caught quickly and they alerted the staff in the building. They also contacted the Fire Service, which arrived at a “reasonable” time, about 15 minutes later. Meantime, another man, who was in the nearby Peppers restaurant said that he heard some explosions and when he rushed outside, observed the wires that run to Household Electronics sparking.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene shortly after 5pm yesterday, thick black smoke issued from the Household Electronics building which is owned by Shaheed Hamid. A fire tender and a tanker were on the scene on Regent Street between Albert and Light streets. Firemen directed small streams of water on the building from which flames were not yet visible. As employees and others dashed in and out, trying to save items, flames, aided by strong winds, erupted from the upper flat of the two-storey building. The firemen were using water from the tender and tanker and appeared to be having problems with the supply.
This elicited strong reactions from citizens. “They shoulda get water, now the fire spreading”, one woman exclaimed as the flames grew. The tanker eventually left for a refill as the servicemen sought other water sources. Some time after the fire started, only weak streams of water were discharged from the hoses, some of which leaked. Water was eventually sourced from the South Road canal. Other tenders were deployed at Charlotte Street. A fireman later told Stabroek News that four water tenders, a water tanker, and a light pump were used in the fight.
Scores of persons converged on the scene and many assisted in removing items from nearby stores that were in danger of catching afire. Nearby storeowners took in some items as the flames grew and threatened other buildings. Trucks were used to remove some goods. With tear-streaked faces, many employees dashed about moving items until the flames became too dangerous, some burst into tears and collapsed.
Meantime, despite a limited water supply, the firemen, after initially concentrating on Household Electronics, began directing their efforts on the nearby buildings too. By then, the upper flat of the DM Sales stores had caught afire and with another wooden home being threatened, the firemen, in searing heat took the fight to the fire. Assisted by public-spirited citizens, sometimes standing just a few feet away from the flames, and with limited protective clothing, they fought to contain the blaze. It was sometime after, when they eventually accessed a steady stream of water that they began to make headway.
At the same time, as plumes of smoke extended into the sky covering parts of the city in a misty haze, police urged on-lookers to get behind barriers and eventually succeeded in controlling the large crowd. Flames licked at other buildings significantly damaging a few while scorching others.
The front wall of Household Electronics eventually collapsed and periodic explosions rent the air as flames leapt out of the DM Sales building, which primarily sells beauty products. Mukesh Daby, the owner is overseas, this newspaper was told. Relatives of the owners of both stores were too distraught to speak when approached. Tears flowed from employees, relatives and others, looking on helplessly as flames consumed the buildings.
The closeness of the structures and how this contributed to the fire spreading was a point raised by many and Deputy Mayor, Robert Williams, who was on the scene said that the city is trying to implement a system where there is at least six feet between buildings. Regent Street has been struck time and again by fires which sometimes have spread to other buildings. In April firefighters managed to contain a mysterious fire which gutted the building of West Half Fashion-Fabric World, located at Regent and Light streets. Last year, also in April, a fire had destroyed the Hamson’s General Store, said to be owned by another member of the Hamid family.
Yesterday, under a setting sun, firemen broke into a home, clambered on roofs and defied the slowly dying but still strong flames to save other homes. As the flames wavered, they upped their efforts and when this newspaper left the scene after 8pm, the fire was still being fought though it had largely died down. Some vehicles were parked close together and their headlights turned on to provide light in the darkening night. Some stood silently while a few sobbed, unsure of their jobs as they looked at the ruins left by the flickering flames.