By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News |
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Fire investigators are working to determine the origin and cause of a massive inferno that tore through Regent Household Electronics on Wednesday afternoon, completely gutting the three-storey commercial establishment in the heart of downtown Georgetown seventeen years after an identical tragedy devastated the same enterprise in 2009.
While swift deployment by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) successfully contained the raging blaze to the single property and prevented catastrophic fire spread through the densely packed commercial district, inventory and structural losses are estimated to run into hundreds of millions of dollars.
Three-Hour Firefight in Congested Commercial Hub
The Guyana Fire Service was alerted shortly after 1:00 PM on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after dense plumes of black smoke began billowing from the upper floors of the three-storey retail building on Regent Street:
- Rapid Mobilization: Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dwayne Scotland reported that the first fire tenders arrived on scene within five minutes of the initial emergency call, eventually mobilizing seven firefighting appliances and high-volume water tenders to cordon off and douse the structure.
- Structural Collapse: Crews engaged in a sustained defensive and interior firefight lasting more than three hours as intense heat caused upper roof timbers and internal flooring to buckle and collapse.
- Containment Success: Despite heavy combustible retail inventory and the proximity of adjacent commercial properties, firefighters established containment lines along the western boundary, neutralizing exposure risks to neighboring stores.
- Safe Evacuation: All retail employees and on-site staff of Regent Household Electronics successfully evacuated the burning premises; no civilian fatalities or serious casualties were reported.
“The western end of the building was secured… [there is] no threat to other buildings,” Deputy Chief Fire Officer Scotland confirmed regarding the perimeter containment.
Neighboring Businesses Shutter Doors Amid Choking Smoke
As thick, noxious smoke blanketed several blocks of Regent Street, adjacent retail outlets halted commercial operations and evacuated staff:
- Nearby Businesses Threatened: Neighboring enterprises—including Bransrite Electrical Store—faced tense moments as staff monitored exterior walls and doused exposure points while firefighters brought the core blaze under control.
- Witness Testimony: Ian Jack, General Manager of Bransrite Electrical Store, recounted the tense containment operation: “It was a bit scary. It was a bit scary… [the firemen were] working hard all around.”
- Mayor Mentore Urges Adequate Insurance: Visiting the fireground, Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore commended the Fire Service for averting a wider downtown catastrophe while urging city business owners to protect their commercial investments with adequate property and inventory insurance policies.
“I must commend the fire people,” Mayor Mentore stated. “They worked hard under difficult conditions to keep this contained to one property… It underlines the critical need for businesses to carry the necessary requisite insurance.”
A Painful Historic Repeat for Proprietor
For business owner Shaheed Hamid, Wednesday’s blaze represents a painful repeat of disaster. Hamid confirmed that the exact same commercial establishment had been completely ravaged by a major fire in 2009.
The Guyana Fire Service’s fire prevention and arson investigation department has cordoned off the burnt-out shell to conduct forensic examinations into electrical wiring, potential breaker surges, and physical origins of the fire.
