Fire swept through the privately run Hope Children’s Home at Enmore yesterday morning prompting a frantic evacuation by staff and residents and all 33 children escaped safely.
By the time the blaze was brought under control, the boys’ dormitory and other sections of the building and church had been gutted, while the girls’ dormitory was saved.
The fire started at about 11 am in the boys’ dormitory. Thick plumes of smoke were visible from surrounding communities, drawing residents to the scene as firefighters battled the blaze.
The Guyana Fire Service dispatched three fire tenders and two ambulances.
Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, speaking during a live update at the scene, said emergency responders worked to suppress the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
Although everyone escaped, several persons sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.
According to the Fire Service, the home’s 33 children—18 boys and 15 girls—were safely evacuated. Two children and one caregiver were injured. One child suffered a fractured hand and possible smoke inhalation, another was treated for shock, while the caregiver sustained a laceration to an arm. Emergency medical technicians treated the injured at the scene before they were transported to the Enmore Hospital for further evaluation.
Speaking with Kiskadee Watch, Director of the Hope Children’s Home Kenneth Finlayson said the children were participating in a Vacation Bible School session in classrooms on the lower floor of the building when someone alerted him that there was a fire.
He said he immediately rushed to the power room and disconnected the electricity before alerting staff members and teachers to evacuate the children.
“Good thing the children were in class so right away I turn off the power switch and I called all the staff and teachers and told them grab the kids and everybody out of the building,” Finlayson said.
He then attempted to extinguish the fire himself.
“I grabbed a mask and a fire extinguisher because we have fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. The smoke detectors were going off at the boys’ dorm. I get to the stairway and I was spraying but the mattresses were in flames,” he explained.
Finlayson said there was no sign of fire in the power room when he entered to disconnect the electricity, but by the time he reached the stairway the blaze had already engulfed the mattresses in the boys’ dormitory.
He said the orphanage has operated since 2001 and has provided care for approximately 300 children over the years. It currently employs 11 staff members.
Gratitude
Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud later expressed gratitude that all of the children had been safely evacuated and accounted for.
She credited staff and caregivers with ensuring that every child was removed from the building safely.
The minister said the children are now being accommodated at state facilities while the ministry works with them and their caregivers to ensure their well-being.
She added that the first session of trauma-focused counselling had already begun to help the children cope with the emotional impact of the fire.
According to the ministry, two children required observation at the Enmore Regional Hospital. One child, who was said to have experienced significant trauma, remained hospitalised as a precaution because of possible smoke inhalation. The second child reportedly fell while leaving the building and may have sustained a shoulder injury. Medical personnel were conducting comprehensive evaluations, including checks for smoke inhalation.
A staff member from the children’s home was also admitted to hospital after sustaining minor injuries during the evacuation, she confirmed.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips later visited the scene before travelling to the hospital to meet with the children and offer support.
Meanwhile, Opposition Member of Parliament Toshana Famey Corlette, APNU’s Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, said the fire served as “a sobering reminder of how swiftly lives can be placed in danger.”
While expressing relief that all 33 children had escaped, she said the incident should not be dismissed as “just another event.”
“These children have endured something no child should ever face, and they deserve every possible care, comfort, and reassurance that their safety remains the highest priority,” she said.
Corlette argued that the incident demanded transparency and accountability, saying the public deserved answers about how the fire started, whether all necessary fire safety measures had been in place, whether regular inspections had been conducted and whether the facility had been adequately prepared for such an emergency.
She also referred to reports from residents that only one fire appliance initially responded and that it had a limited water supply.
“If these reports are confirmed, they would raise serious questions about the operational readiness of the Guyana Fire Service,” she said.
Corlette noted that the Guyana Fire Service received a $6.3 billion allocation under Budget 2026, including funding for new and upgraded fire stations, firefighting equipment, additional fire hydrants and firefighter training.
She said those investments should ensure that the service is “fully equipped, strategically positioned, and capable of responding swiftly and effectively to save lives and protect property.”
She called on the Minister of Home Affairs to provide a comprehensive update on the operational readiness of the Fire Service, including whether its personnel, equipment and capacity are sufficient to respond effectively across the country, and to address residents’ concerns about yesterday’s response if deficiencies are found.
Corlette further said the incident should trigger a comprehensive review of fire safety standards and emergency preparedness at all children’s residential facilities.
“Our nation’s responsibility to protect its most vulnerable children begins long before an emergency occurs,” she said.
“Today we are thankful that every child is safe. Tomorrow must be about accountability, transparency and ensuring that this never happens again.”
In a separate statement, APNU extended sympathy to the children, staff and all those affected by the fire.
The party said MPs Saiku Andrews and Nima Flue Bess and Regional Councillor Shaneika Haynes visited the orphanage to assess the situation, meet with those affected and receive an update on the children’s welfare.
According to APNU, the delegation commended emergency responders, caregivers and others who acted quickly to ensure the children’s safety and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to supporting the children and advocating for the assistance needed to help the home recover.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone impacted, and we stand in solidarity with the Enmore Orphanage during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire. The Guyana Fire Service is continuing its investigation.
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