A massive fire which completely gutted three buildings and damaged two others in Bushlot, Berbice on Monday evening, claimed the life of man who lived in one of the buildings.

The dead man has been identified as Carl Persaud. It is suspected that he became trapped at the top of the two-story building where the fire started. The Nalico and Nafico Insurance companies were housed in the bottom flat of the Public Road, Bushlot building.

Eyewitnesses said the man was seen at a window of his living quarters waving for help, but soon became consumed by the heavy smoke and flames. No one was able to rescue him. By the time the Fire Service arrived on the scene, two buildings were on fire, with a third being badly threatened.

It took the firemen almost an hour to control the blaze, which also gutted a building that housed a number of small businesses.

In a statement last evening, the Guyana Fire Service said it responded within 10 minutes of receiving the first call about the blaze. Additional Fire Tenders were sourced from Mahaica and New Amsterdam.

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