LIAT office among four destroyed in Guyana blaze

Fire officials say they’re unsure at this stage what started the fire that broke out after an explosion in the early hours of this morning.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana,  – An early morning blaze, that reportedly followed a loud explosion, has destroyed the Georgetown offices of regional airline LIAT and three other businesses.

By the time firemen extinguished the fire after receiving the 1:30 am call, the three-storey wooden building occupied by LIAT, Frandec Travel – one of the oldest travel agencies in Guyana –, Dagron Tours and H&F Machinery had been destroyed. 

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle said the cause of the fire is yet to be determined but he said there were reports that a loud explosion was heard before the fire began.

Officials from some of the affected businesses went to the scene after hearing the news and were visibly distraught at the sight.

“It is a devastating loss for the company; it is the only asset the company owns,” Chairman of H&F Machinery, Peter Fraser, told Demarara Waves, adding that the lower and middle floors of the building were refurbished just late last year.

"It puts a full-stop to all the businesses... I can't think; I'm numb.”

Ann Hamilton of Dagron Tours was also stunned by the loss.

“All my data, my computers, files…There is nowhere for me to go and work…I don't know what to say,” she said.

Fire officers were able to contain the fire before it spread to any other building.

Local media reports indicate that about 30 workers have been affected by the blaze.