Canefield family homeless after fire
A family of six is now homeless after an early morning fire gutted their entire twostorey house in Canefield, East Canje Berbice.
Elna Thornhill, 64, resided at the location with her husband, daughter, son-inlaw and two grandchildren.
The fire of unknown origin started just around 6.40 am in the upper flat of Thornhill’s two- storey concrete and wooden house.
According to her, she was in the bathroom located in the lower flat about to shower when her husband who had suffered from a stroke sometime back told her that flames had engulfed the roof of their house.
“I ran out of the bathroom naked skin and then I ran back in the bathroom for a towel... Like I don’t really know what I was doing. I ran into the bedroom for my bag then I ran back… I was running up and down because I was so confused because nothing like this ever happened to me before”, she said.
The woman’s daughter, Melissa Ramalho, said that she immediately grabbed her two children ages 7 and 5 and ran to the street in order to bring them to safety.
Neighbours rushed to their assistance and were able to grab a few households items. An electric scooter and a car which were parked under the house were both severely damaged as a result of the fire.
Meanwhile, Thornhill who operates a business in New Amsterdam further explained that her stocks were also damaged in the fire.
“I run back but the heat was too much. I was running to go upstairs to see my grandchildren but when I go up the step the heat and the fire was too much and I had to come out back.”
The family is seeking assistance as they contemplate their next move and can be contacted on telephone numbers 653-6497 or 662-9740.