A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in Cummings Park, ‘E’ Field Sophia Reserve, Georgetown earlier today, as an 11-month-old infant, Melveena Angel Blair, tragically lost her life in a devastating fire that destroyed her family’s home.
The fire broke out at approximately 11:18 hrs, leaving the family—mother Tineisha Israel, 34; father Carl Blair, 33; and siblings Carl Jr., 6; Carlton, 4; and Carlos, 2—homeless and grieving the loss of their beloved child.
The inferno completely consumed the family’s small wooden home, measuring just 3.3m x 2.6m, along with all of their belongings. Despite swift efforts by neighbors, who attempted to douse the flames with buckets of water, the fire spread rapidly, leaving the family with little time to escape.
In addition to the tragic loss of young Melveena, one sibling, Carl Jr., sustained third-degree burns and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Emergency response teams, including Water Tenders #113 and #105, WC19, and an ambulance, arrived on the scene with a crew of 25 personnel, including 15 firefighters. Unfortunately, the blaze had already taken its toll by the time they arrived.
Preliminary investigations by the Guyana Fire Service suggest that the fire was accidentally sparked by children playing with matches, which ignited nearby combustible materials. At the time of the incident, no adults were present in the house. The children’s mother, Tineisha Israel, was reportedly working just five houses away, leaving the children unsupervised at the time of the fire.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, visited the scene shortly after the tragedy, expressing his deep sorrow over the loss. Minister Benn met with family members, police officers from the Turkeyen Police Station, and firefighters to discuss the incident and offer support. He, along with Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham and the firefighting crew, extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving family and the wider community affected by the disaster.
“Words cannot express the depth of sorrow we feel for this family. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety in the home,” Minister Benn said. “We must all take responsibility for preventing such devastating incidents.”
Also responding to the crisis was Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who, along with her team, visited the scene to provide assistance to the family. The Ministry is working to offer both emotional and practical support as the family navigates the painful process of coping with their loss and starting over.
The fire has shaken not only the Blair family but also the entire Cummings Park community, who have rallied together to offer their condolences and support. The Guyana Fire Service is urging parents and guardians across the nation to take fire safety precautions seriously, particularly when children are present. They recommend equipping homes with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and buckets of sand in case of an emergency. Additionally, it is vital to educate children on the dangers of fire and to avoid leaving them unsupervised.
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