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By Lisa Hamilton
A fire of unknown origin, on Sunday, destroyed Singh’s Electronics Store located at Lot 136 Regent Street leaving millions in losses. The building was rented to a Chinese national.
The fire which started at about 20:30h reportedly started at the Sachi Superstore, located next door to Singh’s Electronics, where a Christmas toy shed was located.
When the Village Voice Guyana arrived on the scene there were numerous firemen active on the ground including Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn.
All efforts were being made to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings, especially the GUYOIL gas station which was separated from the fire by one business, Dhoray’s Fashion.
A security guard from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Regent Street Branch and another who provides services at Shamdas Kirpalani, opposite the building, saw the fire just after it began at 8:30pm.
The men recounted that the fire originated from a shed-like structure where the toys were being kept on a plot of land which belonged to the owners of the Sachi Superstore which was destroyed by fire in February 2020.
Shortly after an alarm was raised, the blaze from the fire spread quickly to Singh’s Electronics. “It blazed above the building and it caught on the second floor of Singh’s building and it started right there blazing through at the top and then coming down to the building,” said the Shamdas Kirpalani security guard.
He said that he was among several persons who called the fire service. The security guard said the fire service took about 20 minutes to respond to the fire.
Explosions were heard and soon police barricades were set up just outside the gas station and at the Camp and Regent Streets intersection to prevent persons getting closer to the blaze.
At around 10:00pm, firefighters were able to quell all of the flames after successfully entering the building.
Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle told the media that though the owners arrived on the scene with the keys to unlock the metal roller shutter doors, the keys did not work. The firemen were then forced to carve two holes with an electric saw into each of the doors.
Smoke poured out the building as they sprayed water through the holes to put out the fire before they could have entered to control the blaze from spreading further.
Gentle said that about five fire units were on the scene but noted that the winds and locating the fire hydrants challenged the firefighting team initially. Water was subsequently accessible from three hydrants and the South Road canal.
“We have to follow up on the information that we got from the callers as to really identify where was the point of origin of the fire and then an investigation of the business will follow that,” he told reporters.
Minister Benn, on the other hand, said that he was pleased with work done by both the firemen and police.
“I’m satisfied that a great effort has been made by the fire service and also by the police in keeping control of the area. We’re just about 150 feet from the GUYOIL gas station on Regent Street so you had those considerations in case the fire had spread,” Benn said.
Concerns were raised by the media about reports that, upon arrival, the fire service could not initially find the needed fire hydrants because it was covered by garbage.
Benn said: “If that is the case, it’s something we’ll have to examine and make sure that the hydrants are free. I am pleased to see the hydrant here working with good pressure from the Guyana Water Inc.”
The Fire Chief said that he has found it common that garbage and even derelict cars continue to block fire hydrants. He urged the business community and members of the public to realise the importance of the facility.
“I think that it’s time citizens should act more responsibly, a fire hydrant is not there for somebody’s whim or to be used to park cars, it’s there for fires like when we have these situations here and, if when we get here those items are not functional or cannot be located, it delays our response,” Gentle said.
The owners of Singh’s Electronics were on the scene but offered no comments.
An investigation has been launched into the incident.
