A mother of seven is homeless for the second time in her life after fire destroyed her six-bedroom wooden-and-concrete home at Glasgow, East Bank Berbice, on Monday morning.
Tricia Wintz, 45, a Constabulary Officer at the New Amsterdam Municipality, told reporters she had left for work at approximately 09:40 hours when she received news of the blaze at around 10:07 hours. She immediately left her workplace and rushed to the scene, where firefighting units from the New Amsterdam Fire Station had responded.
Everything inside the fully furnished home was lost, including all personal belongings and vital documents belonging to Wintz and her seven children.
Wintz disclosed that her 23-year-old son, who has a mental health challenge, was at home when the fire started. He was detained by law enforcement and taken for psychiatric evaluation as investigations continue. While Wintz expressed belief that her son may have been responsible given his behavioural patterns, she said she remains uncertain about his motivations.
Berbice Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald confirmed that the fire was maliciously set.
The tragedy marks the second time Wintz has lost her home to fire, having also had her previous residence destroyed in 2006. She rebuilt after that incident and lived there with her family until Monday’s blaze.
Despite the devastating circumstances, Wintz demonstrated remarkable resilience, appealing for assistance to help her family get back on their feet.
“Living at somebody’s place, I really can’t cope with that. So whatever assistance I get, I would be grateful for it, just in order to get myself together,” she said.
Anyone wishing to support the family may contact Wintz at 645-5725.
