An investigation conducted by the Guyana Fire Service has found that the fire that claimed the life of artist Angold Thompson was caused by the overheating of an electrical fan motor.
A report issued by the Guyana Fire Service explained that the electrical fan motor ignited and subsequently spread to nearby combustible materials, resulting in the fire.
Thompson, 76, of Lot 73 John Street, Campbell-ville, died on Tuesday last after he became trapped when he returned to the burning building to gather some of his belongings.
The fire, which started sometime around 2am, destroyed a two-storey wooden and concrete structure, where approximately eight persons lived.
Kioja Thompson, a son of the deceased, during an interview with Stabroek News, previously said he was awakened by the shouts of `fire!’ from his niece.
The man explained that he immediately got up and began making checks to see where the fire was. While checking, he observed smoke emanating from a middle room and quickly went to the pipe with a bucket as he attempted to extinguish the fire.
However, the fire grew rapidly. Kioja stated that he heard his niece who was trapped in a back room calling for help and instantly broke a window to rescue her.
At that time, he said his mother, who was assisted by Angold, was coming out of the house using the front stairway, but he later learnt that his father went back into the burning house to gather some items. Kioja said he attempted to go up the front stairway in search of his father but the fire was too much.
He then attempted to access the burning building from the back entrance but with the thick smoke he was unable to see the door. He called out for his father but received no answer.
