A fire that broke out at a store in the vicinity of Stabroek Market in Georgetown last night spread to an adjoining building that previously housed the fast-food restaurant KFC, prompting a major response from the Guyana Fire Service.
The blaze reportedly originated at a Chinese-owned clothing and cosmetics store before spreading to the nearby building. However, the precise circumstances surrounding the outbreak of the fire have not yet been established.
The Guyana Fire Service confirmed that it had responded to reports of a store on fire in the busy commercial district, deploying several firefighting units and crews to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other nearby structures.
The units dispatched to the scene included Water Tenders #130 and #131, Water Carrier #26 and Fireboat Protector #9. The responding crews are operating under the command of Section Leader Kingston.
The fire’s spread to the adjoining building has raised concerns about the impact on other properties in the densely populated commercial area, where several businesses and commercial establishments operate in close proximity.
The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) subsequently announced a power interruption affecting customers in sections of Water Street, Lombard Street, Alexander Village and River View as a result of the fire.
In a notice to customers, the power company advised persons to exercise caution in the affected area, explaining that electricity would be restored once it was safe for its teams to carry out the necessary work.
“Power is expected to be restored once it is safe for our teams to restore power to all affected areas,” GPL said.
Information regarding the extent of the damage to the affected buildings, whether there were any injuries or casualties, and the number of businesses impacted, is still being awaited from the Fire Service, which has undertaken to provide additional details.
In a post on his Facebook page, businessman Frank S Sanichara said: “I was just about to head to bed when I saw the news of the fire near Stabroek Market. Knowing that a good friend owns a building nearby, I immediately headed down to see what assistance I could offer.
“Those who know me know I don’t hesitate to speak out when things aren’t right. But tonight, I want to give credit where it is due.
“The Guyana Fire Service deserves our appreciation. I witnessed firefighters who were well-equipped, organized, and working tirelessly. I also want to thank the Guyana Police Force for doing an excellent job maintaining security and order at the scene.
“But what touched me most tonight was meeting the owner of the affected business.
“During our conversation, he shared that he had no insurance because of his religious beliefs. I learned that some Muslims choose not to carry conventional insurance for religious reasons.
“My heart truly went out to him. Imagine standing there helplessly, watching years of hard work, sacrifice, and everything you’ve built disappear before your eyes”.
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