A devastating fire on November 18 left a prison officer and three elderly women homeless after it destroyed their homes in Manuel Junction, Guaracara, Tabaquite. The fire, which broke out around 1:30 pm, consumed both the front wooden and concrete structure and the rear two-bedroom concrete house, sparing only the kitchen. Rishi Ramlal, 45, his mother Chandra Sammy, 74, and her sisters Sita Sammy, 67, and Tulsie Sammy, 76, lost all their belongings in the blaze. Sita, who lived in the rear structure, recounted smelling smoke and seeing curtains ablaze. Her sisters and Ramlal’s 13-year-old son, who was visiting, escaped unharmed. Despite the loss, the family expressed gratitude for their lives, with Sita stating, ‘The main thing is that we have life. We thank God for that.’ Neighbors attempted to control the fire by throwing water until firefighters from the Chaguanas Fire Station arrived to extinguish it. The Brasso Police Station officers, including Sgt Andrews, PC Mathura, and WPC Kennedy, were among the first responders. The family spent the night at a relative’s home and received a visit from local councillor Henry Awong. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the family is seeking assistance to rebuild their lives.