At midday on Sunday, the Guyana Fire Service was alerted of a fire at Lot 547 Health Centre Street, Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo. They promptly dispatched water tenders #81 and #84 from the Leonora Fire Station, with the first unit to arrive carrying 18,738 liters of water.
They arrived at the scene, where a two-story wooden and concrete building was seen on fire. The structure was owned by 33-year-old Deoraj Jaggernauth, who occupied the bottom floor with his family of four.
The top floor was occupied by 34-year-old Felix Lindore, along with Lorena Lopes, and Fahaliz Valentino.
The fire was found to be an overheated drop cord, which started a fire when it came into contact with nearby combustible material.
Much to the chagrin of the seven, now homeless, people, the entire building and its contents were destroyed in the subsequent fire.
The nearby wooden and concrete house on the next lot, occupied by 45-year-old Parbattie Sewchand and 21-year-old Ravishtaa Dass, was also affected by the fire.
The radiated heat from the burning house destroyed 11 meters of PVC guttering.
The Guyana Fire Service advises the use of electrical products and appliances approved by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS)