A devastating fire at Lot 98 and 99, Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, has left two families homeless after a blaze allegedly started by a four-year-old child playing with matches destroyed two houses and their contents on Friday afternoon, authorities said.
Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald said initial investigations indicate that the child, who was reportedly left alone inside the house, ignited nearby combustible materials while playing with matches.
Fire victim, 54-year-old plumber Jeffery Fraser, said he had briefly left home to purchase food at Canje Turn when the incident occurred. He said his two eldest sons, aged 24 and 16, were also away, leaving the young child at home.
Fraser said he initially mistook the smoke for rubbish burning in the neighbourhood while returning home.
“I went out at the Canje Turn to buy a roti and curry… while coming back I thought a neighbour was burning something, but when I got closer I saw my house on fire in the back room,” he said.
He said his first concern was the safety of his child, who was later rescued by a neighbour after being found inside the smoke-filled house.
“The child was brought out and put on the road because there was too much smoke,” Fraser said, adding that he lost household appliances, tools and a scooter in the blaze.
“I feel so sad… I lost everything,” he said.
The fire also spread to a neighbouring home owned by 60-year-old Phulmattee Madramoottoo, where most belongings were destroyed despite efforts to remove some vehicles beforehand.
Eighty-four-year-old neighbour Aunty Betty described scenes of panic as residents fled the area.
“When I came out, I saw the fire and said, ‘Oh my God,’” she said, adding that neighbours forced entry to rescue the child from the burning house.
She said firefighters later cooled nearby structures as intense heat threatened surrounding homes, forcing residents, including a sick family member in a wheelchair, to evacuate.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the blaze.
