- RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Members of a fire team arrive to fight a blaze at the Pearnel Charles Arcade in downtown Kingston early yesterday morning. The fire did extensive damage to sections of the arcade and destroyed millions of dollars worth of vendors' goods.
MORE THAN 60 stalls with millions of dollars worth of goods went up in smoke yesterday morning, after fire destroyed a section of the Pearnel Charles Arcade in downtown Kingston.
"We are awaiting a report from the firemen to determine what caused the fire," Deputy Superintendent of Police Marlon Dietrich, told The Gleaner yesterday.
The officer said he had to request the assistance of a platoon of Jamaica Defence Force soldiers to stave off scores of persons who attemp-ted to loot goods from the blazing arcade. DSP Dietrich said about 50 per cent of the arcade was razed.
When a Gleaner news team arrived at the scene, ill-equipped fire-fighters were observed inside the building, battling the blaze without oxygen mask and other necessary equipment.
HIGGLERS CRYING
On the outside, tearful higglers told stories of how they had just purchased stocks for the Christmas period. Higglers who occupied the section closest to Laws and Church streets, were the worst affected. Security personnel had to barricade the entrance on Church Street to prevent unauthorised persons from gaining access.
"I believe that what will happen now, is the registered owners have to come forward with their identification card and go inside to identify their goods," said DSP Dietrich.
A spokesperson at the Constabulary Communication Network said the fire, which is of unknown origin, started about 4:10 a.m., destroying the southern section of arcade. The police were unable to say whether the goods were insured.
-G. S.
