Millions were lost yesterday as a blaze that started in a garbage dump later mushroomed into a grass fire, travelling some 500 feet to consume Rohan’s Lumberyard at Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
The fire started at approximately 9:30 am and swept through the lumber yard at approximately 11:30 am. A backhoe machine valued $10 million was among the items destroyed in addition to the lumber that was stored in the yard.
According to Richard Persaud, owner of the land upon which the lumberyard was located, at about 11 am, he recognised that the fire was spreading and that the lumber yard was in its path and at risk. He said that the owner of the lumberyard had earlier placed an emergency call to the Guyana Fire Service [GFS] and two fire tenders arrived between 11 am and 12 noon but with limited water capacity. This was used to douse vending booths in the immediate vicinity of the lumberyard. The GFS sought water from a nearby hydrant but the pressure from that source was low and inhibited any attempt to contain the fire. The GFS then sought water from a nearby canal, but as this was going on, Persaud watched in alarm as the fire finally spread to the lumberyard which was packed with wood.
Persaud could not hide his disgust with the GFS and said that if swift containment was done the business could have been saved. Persaud also made reference to the GFS’s leaking hose after they finally gained access to water at the canal.
“I think it’s massive corruption going on somewhere and its taxpayers’ money. Even the hoses got holes, I don’t know why and who is answerable to these things. You go to any fire scene you see water pouring out of the hoses”, he said. Persaud contended that the GFS was without water for a long time and all they could do was stand and watch as millions went up in flames.
Fire Chief Gregory Wickham spoke to Stabroek News and said that the fire started in a garbage dump and later developed into a grass fire that traveled some distance and destroyed the lumberyard. Wickham said they found several pockets of rubbish that were set on fire by residents. Wickham explained that when the fire tenders arrived they tried to acquire water from a hydrant but the pressure was insufficient for firefighting. The Guyana Water Inc. [GWI] was contacted to increase the pressure, however, he said that GWI reported that they were experiencing mechanical issues. Since the GFS was unable to access water from the hydrant, and with limited water capacity in the tenders, Wickham said the next alternative was to access water from a canal.
Stabroek News arrived at the scene at about 12:30 pm and witnessed major fire-fighting beginning at about 2.30 pm. As thick smoke billowed, vehicles had to be diverted to the railway embankment road since the smoke made it difficult for visibility on the main road. As a result, there was a huge traffic buildup from Haslington to Paradise Village, East Coast Demerara.
It is reported that residents living nearby would usually dump and burn garbage on the land owned by Persaud. This, Stabroek News learnt, was not an unusual occurrence as the land is not fenced and despite several reports made on both garbage collection and the fires that are started by residents to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), both situations have remained unchanged.
In a statement yesterday, the fire service said that a total of eighteen firefighters were on the scene from midday trying to extinguish the blaze.
Fire tenders and a water carrier from Melanie, Campbellville, Mahaica, and Alberttown were used to douse the flames.
Due to heavy winds in the area, the GFS said that the fire spread rapidly, resulting in the destruction of Rohan’s lumber yard, which had a large quantity of wood scraps and sawdust to fuel the fire.
The GFS said that it is clear that the fire was deliberately set, despite repeated warnings but setting garbage on fire.
“We continue to condemn these actions and ask people to take these issues seriously. Because both lives and property are at risk from these reckless activities, we will be collaborating with the police to hold offenders accountable”, the GFS said.
The fire comes just days after another at Rome on the East Bank of Demerara which incinerated two 30-acre plots intended for industrial development. (Shuntel Glasgow)
