Family homeless after Werk-en-Rust fire

A family of seven is homeless after a fire of unknown origin destroyed their Lot 24 John Street, Werk-en-Rust home.

Two children from this family died in a Sophia fire about seven years ago.

Based on the information gathered at least four of the occupants were in the house when smoke was spotted coming from a back room. According to what this newspaper was told there was no one in that room at the time nor was there a power surge or sparking wires before the fire.

The John Street fire
The John Street fire

Randolph Taylor, a male occupant of the house sustained burns to his back and was taken to the Georgetown Hospital. He said that on seeing the smoke he grabbed his two year old son and ran out.

Nothing in the house was saved.

Speaking at the scene, fire chief Marlon Gentle said that three fire tenders arrived three minutes after the 8:25 am report and immediately went into action. He told reporters that the back portion of the upper floor was gutted and fire-fighters were successful in “stopping it there”. He said that from all appearances the fire was caused by “domestic activity”.