UPDATED: Major fire at Gafoors again

Last Updated on Monday, 10 October 2016, 21:24 by Denis Chabrol

Gafoors at Houston is on fire again Monday night, months after a previous blaze had ravaged the store there in May of this year.

Fire fighters are on the scene battling the  blaze.

Chief Executive Officer, Sattaur Gafoor said there were no combustibles in that area as only tiles and cement were being stored there. He was later interviewed by police investigators.

Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle told reporters that the fire started at the same location of the Gafoors Complex as the last one five months ago. The Guyana Fire Service received a call at about 6:30 PM that there was a fire.

“It begs the question how could this happen again,” Gentle said. He said fire fighters responded better prepared, having learned a few tactics and strategies at that scene before.

Six fire tenders, one bowser and one Land Rover were deployed to supply water. Fire fighters were assisted by heavy duty machinery such as a BobCat that was used to demolish a concrete wall so that hoses could have been aimed directly at the flames.

Police succeeded in keeping hundreds of curious onlookers at bay by setting up barriers near the East Bank Public Road.

There were no reports of injuries or looting.

Meanwhile, electricity supply to the Houston-Agricola area was switched off and vehicular traffic on the eastern carriageway snarled as curious persons slowed down to catch a glimpse of the scene.