A large fire destroyed a multi-occupancy building on Fifth Street, Alberttown on Tuesday evening, displacing dozens of residents including Guyanese, Cuban, Trinidadian, and Venezuelan nationals.

The blaze reportedly started around 18:30 hrs. Within approximately 30 minutes, the wooden and concrete structure was entirely engulfed in flames. All residents were safely evacuated before the building was destroyed.

Acting Fire Chief Gregory Wickham told reporters on Wednesday morning that firefighters and five water tenders responded to the incident and managed to bring the fire to a controllable position, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring buildings.

Among those displaced was Shaquana Jones, a mother of two, who said she was unable to retrieve any of her valuables and escaped only with her children and fellow residents. A Trinidadian national living in the building recounted being asleep when the fire broke out and said other residents came to alert him. He described escaping through thick smoke and flames as the building burned around him.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Wickham said investigators are currently examining several theories.

SOURCE: Kaieteur News, “Dozens, including foreign nationals, displaced following Alberttown fire,” April 1, 2026