Fire that destroyed seven houses in Canterbury, Montego Bay, St. James, yesterday is seen here blazing out of control prior to the arrival of fire-fighters from the St. James Fire Department. At least 60 persons have been left homeless by the fire, which razed through the inner-city community.
-Adrian Frater photo
Adrian Frater and
Claudine Housen
, Gleaner Reporters
WESTERN BUREAU:
SCORES OF residents in Canterbury, Montego Bay, were left homeless yesterday, when fire destroyed seven dwelling houses, leaving an estimated $10 million in damage.
According to eyewitnesses, some of whom joined in the fight to save their homes, the fire started about 1:30 p.m. and quickly spread, engulfing two nearby houses. The buildings were among the many wooden structures separated by narrow tracks which criss-cross the tightly congested inner-city community.
KICKED OFF DOOR
By the time the first unit from the St. James Fire Department arrived on the scene, three houses were completely razed while several others were still ablaze. While some residents were busy trying to put out the fire, others were frantically trying to save whatever pieces of their belongings they could put their hands on.
"I was washing and then me see the fire so me kick off the door and save an old lady and about three babies," said Howard Wright, a resident of the area. "Me was de first one with the hose and then a next yute come and we help the fireman dem with the hose."
According to Espalee Grey, a resident, more than 50 persons, including a four-month-old baby, and a partially blind elderly woman, were left homeless on account of the fire.
Like many of the residents in the community, Ms. Grey blamed the extensive damage on the absence of fire hydrants in the community.
EMPTY FIRE TRUCK
"No fire truck can't come over the bridge so they have to come to the nearby road," Ms. Grey explained. "One of the fire trucks came and it was empty, no water."
However, Asley Dryden, the Assistant Superintendent for the Montego Bay Fire Department, told The Gleaner that while he acknowledged the complaint about the absence of fire hydrants, the difficult terrain and the closeness of the houses contributed to the problem.
"Getting to the fire presented a major difficulty because we had to climb down embankments and use ladders to cross over the gully," Dryden said. "In addition, the absence of functional hydrants also created a problem for us."
ASTHMA ATTACK
Among the persons hardest hit was Petra Samuels, a second-year business student at the University of the West Indies, who lost everything, including her books. She suffered an asthma attack as she looked on helplessly.
"A Petra last year (at the UWI), everything gone! How she a go back a school!" wailed Joan Clarke-Samuels, Petra's mother. "Where me a go get it fi pay Petra school fee? A next month Petra a go back a school."
Calvin Ellison, councillor for the area who rushed to the scene on hearing the news of the fire, looked on as if in a daze as the residents surveyed the damage, which according to Lukal Brown, one of the landlords, was estimated at $10 million.
"We will be doing everything we can to assist you in putting your lives back together," Councillor Ellison told the residents. "We are going to be making immediate contact with the various Government agencies to see what short-term assistance can be accessed."
The cause of the fire was not known up to press time.
