A fire last evening gutted the home of four persons and the supermarket which they operated below at Lot 298 Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara.
After the blaze was extinguished, only the frame of the house was standing while the concrete entrance of the supermarket, Right Price Supermarket and Poultry Centre, was still in place. The fire reportedly started on the second flat in the last bedroom to the back of the house around 7 pm.
At the scene, the co-pastor of the Mountain Heights Wesleyan Church which is located next door to the business place, Nigel Chetram, said that he and four others were preparing for the Sunday evening service when he looked across and saw smoke issuing from the back of the house. Chetram said he immediately grabbed his cell phone and dialed the fire service on 912 and was told that tenders would be sent. The other four persons, he said, had by that time run out onto the street and started screaming to alert persons.
Proprietor of the business, Patrick Bennett, said that he was driving along Sheriff Street on his way to GuyExpo with his wife and daughter when he received the distressing news. The man said that he is not aware of what could have possibly caused the fire, noting that to the best of his knowledge, no appliances were left on.
Bennett said that he, his wife, Simone Bennett and two children, 17-year-old Miranda and 21-year-old Marvin Bennett share the home above the building but currently his son is in the interior where he is employed as a miner.
Asked about his plans for the near future, a visibly distraught Bennett said “I’m not sure about tomorrow”. He noted that he and his family may be spending the night in their car or at the church since they have to watch over the debris.
Bennett told Stabroek News that his father built the business in 1980 but he managed to develop it over the years, extending and improving the infrastructure. He stated that he could not estimate the extent of losses.
According the Chetram, it appeared as though looters came out and began breaking into the business which was not yet engulfed and made off with many items. He pointed out that the guttering was damaged and the side of the church was scorched. He added that fire tenders responded promptly and started soaking the side of the church to prevent further damage.
Bennett told Stabroek News that his father built the business in 1980 but he managed to develop it over the years, extending and improving the infrastructure. He stated that he could not estimate the extent of losses.
