Ross Sheil and Robert Lalah, Staff Reporters
A FAST-SPREADING fire yesterday burnt down one of the buildings at the Jamaica Public Service Company's (JPS) Corporate Area Operations Department on Ruthven Road, St. Andrew.
One fireman received minor injuries while attempting to put out the fire. Nine employees from the dispatch office were inside the building when the fire started, but all managed to escape without injury.
They had started their shift at 7:00 a.m. and just half an hour later were alerted by a telephone call from security guard Novlette Jonas, who saw smoke coming from the building.
Dispatch technician Floyd James received the call and with his colleagues, went to investigate. "We saw smoke coming from the bathroom, but when we looked, the fire was intense. It started from the back of the building," he said.
"I think it must have started well before 7:30 a.m. because of the intensity," he added.
Dave Wright, another employee, said the fire spread quickly, leaving those inside with few options: "We just tried to grab what was in front of us and run."
York Park Fire Station watch commander Assistant Superintendent Samuel Wright said that despite the strength of the fire, and the injury to one of his men, the fire "had been easy to control."
JPS Director of External Relations Frank Rey, said the fire would not disrupt JPS's operations. "We have a lot of space elsewhere which we can use. We have a transport department on Spanish Town Road which has not been used since Ameco took over ownership of vehicles and we started leasing from them."
SATURDAY OPENING
Six JPS trucks were, however, still stranded in the parking lot of the burnt-out building when The Sunday Gleaner visited the scene. The keys to the trucks were trapped inside the building.
JPS had more positive news to report with yesterday being the first Saturday opening of their branches. According to JPS, customers appreciated the option of paying their bill on a non-working day. All branches across the island were open, except Ruthven Road.
