Fourteen persons are homeless in Wismar following a fire yesterday and residents blamed the current administration for not solving the age-old problem in the community where fire-fighters often respond to scenes but are unable to extinguish fires before the buildings are completely consumed.
The fourteen persons who are now homeless are Roxanne Mcturk, her children Suanne Morris, Annesia Mcturk, Keneshia Mcturk, Brian Morris and her grandson Shareef Fraser. Roxanne and her children lived on the second floor of the two-storey building at Lot 774, One Mile Wismar, Linden while the eight other family members occupied the lower flat.
A distraught Roxanne said that the entire family has lost over $10M in valuables. The mother of five said she wasbusy cooking in the kitchen when she realized smoke was emanating from the lower flat of the building. “When I peep downstairs through a crease I see de house in fire”, lamented the woman. Realizing what was happening, Roxanne rushed everyone out of the house and subsequently informed the Linden Fire Service. The fire-fighters quickly responded. However, their efforts proved futile. At the time of Stabroek News’ visit to the scene the firemen were inspecting the wooden building that was already destroyed by the raging fire.
Approximately three houses away from the scene stood a popular community representative, Charles Sampson, who was condemning the present administration for failing to implement systems that will ensure an effective fire service across Guyana. Sampson while speaking to the public on a microphone said the destruction of the building could have been prevented. He explained that at the initial stage of the fire, two fire tenders arrived on the scene and had the fire under control but lost control after experiencing a water shortage of water.
“They had to go and get water and by the time they came back the fire got worse, consuming the building but they ran out of water again, so again they went but one of the trucks broke down on the way”. At this point, residents formed bucket brigades to put an end to the fire which was a threat to a neighbouring building. Additionally, he says there are dysfunctional fire hydrants in the community, problems that can be addressed if some attention is given.
Meanwhile Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo who was sympathizing with the fire victims said the fire- fighters are not to be blamed. He explained that the Linden Fire Service always responds immediately after being informed of a fire.
However he said the one-lane Mackenzie Wismar Bridge is often an obstacle between the fire-fighters and the scene since the fire tenders are most times forced to wait until the bridge is clear. Additionally, he explained that the fire tender could only hold a certain amount of water and when exhausted the only option is to replenish it at a nearby source.
The regional chairman stressed that the fire-fighters are not to be blamed. However he placed the blame on the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Water Incorporated for failing to operationalize the dysfunctional hydrants across the region. He said since 2002 representations were made to the then Minister of Home Affairs however to date nothing has been done. (Cathy Richards)
