Sixty-eight (68) houses were destroyed by fire in Regions Five and Six between January and September 2026. One of the fires led to the death of a woman at Blairmont.
Division Fire Officer Clive McDonald told reporters that the number of house fires was slightly higher than the 67 recorded in the corresponding period last year, when no fatalities were reported.
The lone fatality this year was Bibi Shafroon Ramprashad, known as “Zina,” of Lot 95, Number Two Settlement, Blairmont, West Bank Berbice (WBB). Ramprashad, who was wheelchair-bound, died on June 2 after a fire broke out at her home while she was alone.
McDonald also reported several other fire incidents across the two regions during the first nine months of the year. These included fires affecting one church, 10 government buildings, six businesses, two sheds, one stall, four bonds, one lubricant facility and one rice mill. Included in the total are 32 electrical fires along with 12 vehicle fires.
The division further recorded 92 garbage fires and 256 grass fires during the period.
Investigations revealed that 344 fires across some categories were deliberately set, while 46 were classified as maliciously set, McDonald said.
He attributed the increase in grass fires to people lighting fires and leaving them unattended, allowing the flames to spread across open fields and other lands amid the prevailing El Niño conditions.
“We are imploring on citizens of Regions Five and Six to follow our guidelines posted on our social media platforms as it relates to grass fires so that we can reduce it,” McDonald said.
He warned that grass fires not only place property at risk but can also affect nearby communities and reduce visibility for motorists, creating dangerous road conditions.
McDonald urged residents to report suspicious activities and fires at abandoned properties, while encouraging the public to follow fire prevention guidelines.
He added that the division has been conducting public sensitisation exercises to educate residents on fire prevention methods and techniques.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
