An early morning fire yesterday left a New Amsterdam pensioner and her relatives homeless mere weeks before Christmas.
According to information gathered, the fire completely destroyed the upper flat of 84-year-old Doreen Thom’s home located at King Street, New Amsterdam.
Stabroek News was told, that Thom resided in the upper flat with her three grandchildren and Alana Joseph, 40, the acting town engineer, while Rederson Jarvis, who is presently overseas, occupies the lower flat.
Based on reports, Joseph woke up to the fire coming from the back of the house just around 4.30 am.
She then raised an alarm causing all the occupants to hurry out of the building before the upper part was completely engulfed in flames.
This newspaper was told that the New Amsterdam Fire Station quickly arrived at the scene but encountered trouble sourcing water.
Persons in the area said one fire-fighter sustained minor injuries after he fell from a ladder. However, that did not deter him from continuing to work to extinguish the fire.
Both the fire service and police have launched an investigation.
