The Little Diamond fire was caused by an electrical fan
The views from the fire.
Kaieteur News – The fire that happened last Thursday and took the life of Krystle Chung, 26, was caused by an electrical fan in Chung’s bedroom, according to Fire Chief Marlon Gentle.
Kaieteur News had reported that the fire occurred around 05:30 o’clock. at Lot 8, Little Diamond, Demerara East Bank, where Chung lived with her father, mother and little sister.
While Chung’s parents and sister were able to escape the inferno with minor burns to their bodies, she was not so fortunate since she was trapped in her bedroom, which was on the front west side of the building.
When contacted, Gentle told this publication yesterday that the investigation into the origin of the fire was closed Monday night. He said the investigation revealed that the fire was caused by an electrical fan in Chung’s bedroom.
Died, Krystle Chung.
Gentle added that the investigation was conducted in cooperation between the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and the Government Electrical Inspector.
Kaieteur News had reported, according to an eyewitness, that neighbors and passers-by noticed smoke and fire emitting in the upper flat wood of the two-storey building, so they raised an alarm.
Another eyewitness noted that before the firefighters arrived, there was a loud shout of assistance coming from Chung’s bedroom. “Her father and some men tried to rescue her but the fire continued to spread and they had to abandon her … at that time, they couldn’t do anything to save the way the fire went out,” the man added.
As word spread about a fire in the community, residents swarmed the road and streets. After the firefighters were informed that a woman had been trapped in the front bedroom of the upper apartment, the men aimed their pipes at the bedroom area to control the fire.
That wasn’t enough though – the screams of the young woman were no longer heard after some time. At that point, Chung’s relatives and other persons gathered under a neighbor’s house. As Chung’s mother watched on in tears, her relatives tried to comfort her.
About 07:40 hours. on that day, firefighters were able to control the fire that had completely destroyed the upper part of the building. The firefighters then continued to pipe parts of the house that still had smoke.
Seconds after the firefighters stopped the house pipes, relatives screamed loudly after someone said, “Look at her burning body hanging on that side of the house.”
Before the firefighters attempted to restore Chung’s body, workers from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) were called to cut the electrical wire that ran into the home. The firefighters then placed a ladder some distance away from where Chung’s lost remains were seen hanging out on the west side of the house.
However, the ranks had some difficulties in reaching Chung’s body, so other firefighters were instructed to continue to hose the area.
“Don’t throw it that way … pick it up,” relatives shouted at the firefighters who removed Chung’s burnt out body beyond recognition. Undertakers then wrapped Chung’s remains in blue plastic and took them away.
Since then an organization has started a ‘Go Fund Me’ fundraiser to help the Chung family get started. Anyone wishing to make a donation can follow the link: https://gofund.me/2bec16c1.