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A family of four lost their Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara home and business on Sunday night following a fire suspected to be electrical in origin.

Sections of two neighbouring houses were also destroyed.

Reports are that the fire started around 21:42 hrs at Seaview, Anna Catherina, WCD.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said the fire started in a one-flat wooden and concrete structure which is owned by 38-year-old Ravindra Balkissoon. He along with his family of three lived there.

A building next door which housed a furniture workshop that Balkissoon operated was also destroyed by the fire, the GFS said.

Additionally, PVC guttering along with windows and facing boards from two neighbouring houses were damaged.

The buildings are owned by 47-year-old Mark Jelto and 56-year-old Sherina Mohamed.

According to the GFS, officials from the Leonora Fire Station responded to the call. Upon arrival at the location, Balkissoon’s house was completely engulfed in fire.

“One jet working from an open water source and another working from tank supply were used to extinguish the blaze,” the statement said.

The GFS said the purported cause of the fire is a breakdown in the electrical circuit resulting in arcing and sparking which ignited nearby combustible materials.

“The building and its contents were destroyed due to radiated heat from the building of the origin,” the statement said.

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