The Zout Der Aarde Children’s Home which was located in the Lolastraat went up in flames on Monday. The fire also consumed the kindergarten (Richel Jozefa School) that was located in the same building.

Olton Pinas, spokesman of the Fire Department Suriname (KBS), told Times of Suriname that the fire started when a boy started playing with a lighter on a bed. The boy who had been on vacation had just returned to the children’s home. Pinas explained that reports indicate that the 10-year-old boy brought the lighter to the children’s home and that he was playing with it when a mattress caught fire. The fire quickly spread throughout the children’s home. When the fire broke out there were 20 children and several coaches in the building. When the coaches realized that the building was on fire, they escorted the children outside. Nobody was injured but a dog perished in the fire. Reports indicate that 40 children resided in the children’s home. The remaining children were expected to return to the children’s home this week…[+]