A two-story house located at Penitentiary Walk in New Amsterdam was destroyed by fire on Tuesday night, raising concerns as investigations suggest the blaze was set maliciously.
Berbice Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald reported that the New Amsterdam Fire Station received an emergency call at approximately 9:53 PM. Two fire tenders swiftly responded and were able to extinguish the flames before they spread beyond the structure. Fortunately, the building was unoccupied at the time of the incident.
“Due to the good work of the ranks on duty, they stopped the fire from spreading and contained it to the building. As a result, the building suffered severe damage,” McDonald stated.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing two individuals enter the yard just before the fire erupted, adding a troubling twist to the investigation. A reliable source also revealed that the previous tenants of both the upper and lower flats had vacated the property only a week prior to the incident.
The flames appeared to have originated from the back section of the house, and McDonald confirmed that there was no electricity in the building at the time of the fire. “Nothing much was inside the building. The combustible materials were very little,” he explained.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire and urge anyone with information to come forward.
