A fire of unknown origin early yesterday morning gutted the Wuhu supermarket situated at Lot 6 East Half Section ‘A’, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, leaving millions in losses.
The Guyana Fire Service’s Fire Prevention Department and the Guyana Police Force have launched an investigation to ascertain its origin. The building is owned by Cheliezhu (only name given), a 43-year-old Chinese national of Lot 3 Railway Embankment, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
It was reported that at about 03:45 am, thick smoke was seen billowing into the air as the fire began its march through the supermarket.
A Guyana Fire Service (GFS) release related that an alert came in at approximately 04:23 hours about a fire at aforementioned address. A water carrier from the Melanie Fire Station, a water tender from the Mahaica Fire Station, and an ambulance were immediately dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, firefighters observed a two-storey wooden and concrete building engulfed in flames.
Firefighters deployed two jets operating from the water carrier and the water tender, followed by the use of an open water source, to successfully extinguish the flames.
The radiated heat from the fire minimally damaged a wooden and concrete building next door, scorching the external wall and shattering some louvre window panes
The GFS in it release reiterated the importance of equipping homes and businesses with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, smoke alarms and sprinkler systems. There were no fire suppression systems in place inside the fire-ravaged building.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene, the interior of the building and its contents had been destroyed by the fire. The supermarket was constructed only a few months ago.
