Fire destroys Campbellville home
Stabroek News
January 1, 2004
The charred remains of the 68 Second Street, Campbellville house that was razed by fire on Tuesday evening. In the foreground is one of the vehicles damaged by the flames.
A fire at 68 Second Street, Campbellville on Tuesday night has left eleven people homeless.
The fire started at around 10 pm in the bottom flat of the building which was empty at the time. Bibi Hazra, the reputed wife of Balram Dyal who lived in the building and ran a workshop there, said, "When I heard about the fire it was around midnight. I don't sleep here, I sleep in Station Street for the holidays. When I do get the message the whole house was in flames."
Neighbours, Etwaria and Dolly Mohabir said they were watching television shortly after turning in for the evening. "My sister was closing in her window when she saw the fire and raised the alarm," said Dolly. She noted that the fire caused a blackout in the area. Etwaria said all the neighbours helped fetch items out of the house. Another resident said the fire tenders came within five to ten minutes from when the alarm was raised.
Dyal who lives in the house with his family as well as the families of his brothers and sisters, told Stabroek News he had lost a compressor, spray gun, welding plant and blow torch among other items. He said about $1.5 million in household items such as a brand new meter, a computer and furniture were also damaged. He also lost a bus bought in April. He said he would start rebuilding next week adding that the house was insured "for a small amount that would not cover even one person's property."
Another neighbour, Corporal Tyrone Griffith of the Guyana Defence Force noted "I have no idea how it started. Upstairs burned first then downstairs." He said nobody was around when the fire started.
He added that, "each street should have fire hydrants at the head since these areas are heavily populated. The little water the fire tenders came with could not do. I don't know where they got water from but when water started suddenly spraying I smell the water and it smell like gutter water."
He said that though the owner of the property was not there when the fire started he came later and told them what to save, such as some gas bottles and other stuff. However within two hours the house was flat. Griffith thought that if the fire service had arrived earlier they could have done a better job.
"When I arrived here there were two, three fire tenders with a little water fighting the fire. When the water finished they started to pump from somewhere. According to my estimation the next house should have burned but was saved, so the fire service did a good job."
The Campbellville Fire Station is a few minutes walk from the site of the fire. Officers refused to talk. Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Randolph Alfred said they were still investigating the blaze.