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Building reignites, firefighters summoned
A firefighter dousing the gutted building that reignited mysteriously yesterday.
Fire mysteriously reignited yesterday at the three-storey wooden structure at 48 Barrack and High Streets, Kingston, that was gutted on Easter Monday. Fire fighters were summoned to the scene and doused the building with water.
Meanwhile, scores of victims remain homeless, with Digicel, Guyana Relief Council (GRC) and a number of concerned citizens assisting some who were sleeping on the pavement, while others were allowed the use of the Anglican Bishop’s residence opposite the destroyed building.
GRC officials yesterday visited the fire scene and offered temporary housing at its Shelter facility (at Lot X, West of Public Road Ruimveldt) to 37 persons (20 adults, 10 children and 7 babies). Nineteen (19) persons elected to stay at the facility.
According to Admin Officer of the GRC, Ms Lynette Carter, during their stay at the temporary shelter the council provides all the basic amenities including food to those affected. Material support includes items such as soap, toilet paper, pampers, sanitary napkins, toilet cleaner, mops, buckets, washing tubs, bath towels, sheets, pillows, plates, spoons and adult and children underwear among other items.
“Monetary contributions are very welcome to aid in defraying related expenses,” Carter added.
Eric Phillips, of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), and Digicel representatives provided breakfast and other items.
Residents in the Kingston area said that lots of persons were seen sleeping under the gutted dilapidated building that fire razed on Easter Monday.
“That is real dangerous, suppose the building de fall now? Is another story and more misery. These people only get up and go over the road and like they don’t care what they do,” one nearby resident opined.
This publication spoke to some of the fire victims and they collectively disclosed that they wanted assistance in whatever form it could be given. However, most are requesting assistance in acquiring affordable house lots.
Mings Products and Services Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Ming, visited some of the fire victims at the site of the gutted building and promised to provide some assistance.
The Benschop Foundation donated much need clothing.
According to Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, and from preliminary findings, it appears as if someone was cooking in one of the 26 rooms and might have forgotten the lighted kerosene stove and ventured outside.
The fire started shortly after 14:00hrs on Monday, last.
The local office of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) housed in a colonial wooden building was slightly scorched.
A two-flat wooden building west of the destroyed building was also soaked, even as occupants were saving household effects.
Fire Chief Gentle told reporters that the building was earmarked for demolition since 2007.
According to Gentle, the City Engineer’s Department had also encountered difficulties getting the occupants out of the building, even though it was deemed unsafe.
“We started closely looking at the building in 2007 and from since then they have been trying to get it down,” Gentle said.
He further told media operatives that the fire service has identified another 27 buildings that are fire hazards.
Gentle said that the incident served as a tragic warning for the persons who are affected.
Of the 27 buildings which were identified for demolition, three have since been taken down, mainly by the owners.
Mayor Hamilton Green in an invited comment said that the building was ordered to be demolished since last year. He explained that the occupants were given notice and recommendations were made for them to approach the Ministry of Housing, since they claimed to have nowhere else to go.
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