At least 10 members of an extended family living in Montrose on the East Coast Demerara were last evening dislocated when a fire destroyed their home.
Shortly before 7 pm, fire erupted in the building at Lot 176 Fifth Street Montrose and it was subsequently destroy-ed, leaving Durpattie Sanchara, her three sons – Peter, Alvin and Terry – her two daughters-in-law and her grandchildren homeless. The family members were unable to save anything of value as the wooden building was burnt completely to the ground.
One of the granddaughters, Rachel Sanchara, suffered burns to her hand during the fire.
Sharon Sanchara, one of Durpattie’s daughters, told this newspaper that she and her three children were visiting when the fire started. According to Sharon, she and her mother were chatting and watching television when they heard an explosion. On hearing the noise, Sharon said, she ran to the stairs and peeked out and observed that the back part of the house was in flames. She said she immediately ran back upstairs and guided her mother and three children to safety.
According to Sharon, the house was compartmentalized and while her mother lived upstairs, each of her brothers had a section of the house that was theirs. Rachel, who was injured in the fire, lived in the back apartment and was at home when the fire started, Sharon disclosed. Rachel’s injuries were said not to be severe.
However, Sharon was disappointed in the efforts of the Guyana Fire Service. According to her, the response was slow and they did not have enough water. The fire had already spread from the back of the house to the front of the building by the time the fire tenders arrived, and they had “lil bit water” to put out the fire, Sharon said.
One of the affected residents, Terry Sanchara said he was at work when he heard the news. When he arrived some time after 7 pm his home was already burnt down. Terry, who lived there with his wife and three children, told this newspaper that the building had been his home all his life and added that he had lost everything in the blaze.
Officials of the Guyana Fire Service are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
