A 65-year-old man lost his life on Thursday night after becoming trapped inside his burning home when a massive fire destroyed a property on Lamaha Street, Newtown, Kitty.
The victim has been identified as Vernon Duncan. The blaze erupted at around 9:00pm and, despite the response of the Guyana Fire Service, the two-storey wooden and concrete building was completely destroyed. Two neighbouring homes also sustained damage.
Neighbour Sylvia Grey recalled that she had been asleep when her son woke her after smelling smoke.
“When I glance over there, I see the big fire over there, so I run upstairs. I tell me son, ‘Don’t get panic, let we go wet the wall.’ I tell him to get anything he can and start throwing the water on the wall, but after a period of time now the smoke and the fire start coming over pon me,” Grey recounted.
As the flames intensified and thick smoke spread, Grey said she fled her home with only her cellphone and laptop. She said part of her home was damaged, along with several personal belongings stored on the affected side of the property.
After reaching safety, Grey said she began asking neighbours whether Duncan had managed to escape. It was then that she learned he was still inside the burning house.
According to Grey, Duncan had previously suffered a stroke and was also injured in an accident several years ago, leaving him unable to move around independently. She believes those health challenges prevented him from escaping the blaze.
“So he gon by the back door now, to see if he could get the back door open, but the smoke is what tampered with him and he left dead right deh, burnt up,” she said.
Grey described Duncan as a kind, friendly and welcoming man who was always willing to lend a helping hand. She said he was a “jack of all trades” and well known throughout the community for his generosity.
Fighting back tears, Grey said Duncan did not deserve to die in such a tragic manner and described his death as heartbreaking.
She also believes the fire may have been caused by an electrical issue, explaining that Duncan had recently experienced problems with the electrical wiring in his home.
The exact cause of the blaze has not yet been determined. The Guyana Fire Service has launched an investigation.
