An electrical and instrumentation engineer was left counting his losses yesterday after a fire razed his Penal home. Homeowner Mark Mohammed, 43, of Dookie Street, Penal, in an interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, said he was clueless about what caused the fire in his home. “It is kind of strange,” he remarked. Mohammed, who has a 17-year-old daughter, lived alone in the house.
He said his house and land, which he was living in for the past six years, was valued at $1.5 million, while his belongings were estimated at $200,000. Mohammed, who is employed at Powergen, said he left home on Friday around 10 am and secured his two-storey concrete home. He said he later went to his brother’s house in Sunrees Road, Penal and returned home around 10.30 am Saturday.
Mohammed said while walking into his street he saw smoke and fire appliances outside his home. “The house was on fire and they were trying to put it out,” Mohammed explained. He said while the cause of the fire is yet to be determined fire investigators told him the fire began in the front room of the house. Mohammed said the fire came as a “big surprise” since he did not have any problems with the wiring in the house, especially since he personally ensured everything was in good order.
Yesterday, when the T&T Guardian visited the house, smoke and flames from embers were seen coming from inside. Investigators are expected to return to the house today to continue inquires.
Penal police are probing the matter.