A Richmond, Essequibo Coast family of five is homeless after a fire destroyed their home on Tuesday morning. It is suspected that the fire was electrical in origin.
According to reports, the fire began at around 11:35 am at the home of Orin Belfield, a policeman stationed at the Anna Regina police station. His wife, Claire Belfield was at home with their youngest son and a grandson. The trio was reportedly sleeping when a neighbour on the opposite side of the public road noticed smoke emanating from the building.
She raised an alarm and Claire and the two children awoke and rushed out of the home. The fire spread rapidly and they were unable to save anything. A resident told this newspaper that the Anna Regina fire station is less than a mile away but by the time the firemen responded, the home was almost destroyed. Losses are reportedly in the vicinity of $5M.
Belfield, according to reports, had called his wife to inform her of a fire in the village only to learn that it was his own house that was burning. The family has been living at the home for over 20 years.
