A family of three is counting their losses after a fast-moving fire completely destroyed their home and workshop in Smithfield, New Amsterdam, early Tuesday morning.
The property, a three-bedroom house, was occupied by 52-year-old contractor Shawn Embrack, his 84-year-old mother, Charlotte Embrack, and his daughter. The blaze also claimed the entire contents of the workshop located on the lower level of the structure.
According to Shawn Embrack, the neighborhood was experiencing a power outage at the time of the incident. He stated that at approximately 10:50 a.m., while heading to a local shop, he spotted smoke billowing from the ceiling of the upper floor.
“I hurried back home in an attempt to salvage some belongings, but the fire spread rapidly throughout the property,” Embrack recounted. The speed of the blaze left him unable to recover any items from the home or his workshop.
The workshop, which was integral to his livelihood, contained significant equipment, including welding gear, a generator, concrete cutters, a jackhammer, and an array of specialized electrical tools. While the family has not yet been able to place a total monetary value on their losses, Embrack expressed his determination to rebuild the structure.
Personnel from the New Amsterdam Fire Station were summoned to the scene and worked to combat the flames. Berbice Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald confirmed that the blaze is currently under investigation, and the official cause remains undetermined at this time.
No injuries were reported during the incident, as the occupants were able to escape the structure as the fire took hold.
