Andrea Downer, Gleaner WriterA SPOKESMAN for Jamaica Fire Brigade says the owner of the five shops destroyed in a fire at King's Plaza on Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew, on Sunday, has racked up at least eight building code violations and, as such, has breached the Fire Brigade Act.
The five shops are owned by the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers' Association (JGRA) which occupies two of them. The others are rented. A conservative estimate of the total loss from the occupiers of the shops, including the JGRA, was put at just under $70 million. The fire department has not yet given an official estimate of the loss.
According to Wayne Farqu-harson, deputy chief fire prevention officer, the building lacked an adequate ventilation system. Partitions between the five shops were made of plyboard and bagasse rather than fire-resistant gypsum plate. The absence of internal fire protection features was cited as yet another violation.
"There were no smoke detectors, no fire alarms, no first aid fire-fighting equipment, such as fire extinguishers and fire hose reels," Mr. Farquharson stated. "The building was not equipped with fire doors," he added.
