The Guyana Fire Service received a call at 21:28 hours last evening and was alerted to a fire at Lot 13 Phase One, Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.

Water Tenders #103 from the Campbellville Fire Station and #106 from Melanie Fire Station were immediately dispatched to the location.

The structure involved was a two storey wooden and concrete building owned and occupied by fifty-nine year old Asif Shaffie.

As a result of the fire the building and its contents were destroyed.

The purported cause of the fire is malicious setting by person(s) unknown.

The Guyana Fire Service has noted an increase in arson attacks and is advising citizens to not make it easy for an arsonist to start a fire or for an outdoor fire to spread to other buildings.

The following are some preventative tips for you to reduce malicious fires:

• Keep garbage, litter, leaves, firewood, overgrown brush and shrubbery, and other combustibles away from buildings.

• Lock all doors and windows in garages, cars and unoccupied buildings.

• Install outdoor lighting, including motion sensor lights, on all sides of your property.

• Board up abandoned buildings and clean the area of litter and debris.

• Securely store combustibles such as paint, gasoline, and oil in proper flammable storage containers in a locked location to restrict access. Minimize the quantity of combustibles in storage and dispose of materials you don’t need.

• Report suspicious activity near houses or other buildings to the Guyana Fire Service or Guyana Police Force.

• Get to know your neighbours – together you can keep a watchful eye on your community.

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach and out of sight of children.

• If you know or suspect that an arson crime has been committed, contact the Guyana Fire Service or Guyana Police Force immediately.