A two-bedroom house at Dan Koko, Bel Air completely burned to the ground yesterday evening, after a ferocious fire broke out and engulfed the building within seconds.

The wood and corrugated iron dwelling, owned by well-known kite maker Georges Pillay, who also lives nearby, has been unoccupied for the past couple of months after the previous tenants left, and was only furnished with a wardrobe and a shelving cabinet.

According to Mr Pillay, he was alerted about the fire just after 6pm by his neighbours who saw the flames, but by then, the house was completely ablaze.

“Around 6.15pm, I was in my own house and I heard frantic shouts. I did not know what it was as I could not see the fire from the far end of my house and at first didn’t pay much attention but the shouting continued which led me to come out where I saw the entire house in flames. It had just stopped raining and I was taken aback by the flames. At that point, we called in the fire brigade and by that point, the house was completely engulfed by the flames,” Mr Pillay noted.

Although it still remains unclear how the blaze broke out, Mr Pillay has an inkling that it may have been caused by drug addicts and criminals in the community, who have in the past approached him numerous times requesting that the house be rented to them.

“I am not blaming anyone but I have had many requests from addicts to rent them the house. There have even been instances in the past where they have entered the premises to conduct illegal activities. Once I went in the house and found water bottles, empty takeaway packaging so I blocked off the doorway and sealed off the windows with wood and iron sheets so as to prevent them from entering,” Mr Pillay further added.

According to fire-fighters on the scene, three fire tenders were deployed to the scene, although not much could be done to save the house, considering the structure and materials with which it has been constructed.

The house, located slap-bang in the middle of numerous houses, had been standing for at least 50 years, Mr Pillay said, and represents a “monument” to him.

Luckily fire-fighters were able to put the blaze under control and save surrounding properties from damage.

More information about the blaze are expected to be made available today by the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA).

The accompanying photos show remnants of the burnt house.

Laura Pillay