A fire, reportedly started by a lit candle, gutted two businesses and substantially destroyed another at Market Square, Matthews Ridge on Saturday night.
According to reports from the North West District, around 10:25 pm on Saturday, residents of the community observed smoke emanating from a shop at Market Square and within a matter of minutes flames engulfed the building which was owned by businesswoman Sandra Mendonca.
Reports are that the owner of another shop which is operated by school teacher Shondel St Juste was also flattened while an adjoining business was substantially damaged by the blaze.
A resident of the area told this newspaper yesterday that the fire started at Mendonca’s shop soon after the business was closed.
She said that several persons who patronized the business recalled a lit candle being left within the building. She said that the blaze was further aided by a quantity of fuel which was kept aback one of the buildings for resale to miners who traverse the community.
She added that that Mendonca is in the city and according to her, relatives closed up the business earlier in the evening and left for home.
She added that St Juste and her family are also in the city and the family also slept at the business place.
Another resident related that soon after the fire was observed, persons tried desperately to save the buildings by forming a bucket brigade. He said that the owners of the partially destroyed building managed to save some of their valuables and according to him, the losses could amount to millions.
While no injuries were reported, the owner of one of the buildings was hospitalised briefly at the Pakera Hospital in the community after she was informed of the fire.
The incident is being investigated by the police and the Guyana Fire Service.
