Fire service awaiting results of lab tests to determine cause of GPH cardiac unit fire
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is awaiting the results of the testing of samples which were sent to the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) to conclude the investigation into the fire that destroyed the Georgetown
Public Hospital (GPH) echocardiography (ECG) laboratory on New Year’s Day.
Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham yesterday told Sunday Stabroek that a cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
He said investigators are hoping to wrap up the investigation in the new week. “Samples from the fire at the Georgetown Hospital were sent to the forensic lab [GFSL] and they are still awaiting the results from those tests. They weren’t able to conclude on the cause of the fire,” Wickham said in an invited comment.
The fire has left some $25 million worth of damage behind with the destruction of the public health system’s lone ECG laboratory.
The GFS had said that Water Tenders #102, #105, #106, and #112 from the Central, Campbellville and Alberttown Fire Stations were summoned to the GPH at about 05:24 hrs on January 1.
The fire occurred in the echocardiography room which is located on the first floor of the GPH and the entire room was severely damaged.
The prompt response of the GFS resulted in the containment of the blaze and prevented it from spreading to other parts of the hospital.
From preliminary investigation, it is suspected that the fire was an act of arson.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had previously told this newspaper that a doctor was questioned as part of the probe and he released on station bail.
The doctor was suspended from work following allegations of sexual harassment against him by a staff member. Leading up to the fire, camera footage showed the doctor in the vicinity of the ECG laboratory. Due to the fact that he was suspended, he was not to be on duty or in the area of the laboratory.