Bartholomew Chan, Gleaner Writer
These young boys assist with the cleanup after a fire gutted several homes in a tenement on Victoria Street in Denham Town, West Kingston yesterday, leaving 72 persons homeless. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SEVENTY-TWO PERSONS, ranging in age from four months to 61 years, including 38 children, have been left homeless following a fire which razed 21 wooden structures at 12-14 Victoria Street, Denham Town, west Kingston, about 2:00 a.m. yesterday.
A few minor injuries have been reported.
Residents told The Gleaner they believe the fire was caused by an "electrical fault" from overhead cables.
In the afternoon, children, some pushing wheelbarrows, scuttled around the charred remains of the houses and workmen had already started erecting timber frames for new structures.
Renford Smith, a former resident, told The Gleaner that he was in bed when the 'smoke and heat' woke him.
"The first thing I did was get to my children and shout fire," said Mr. Smith. "Give thanks to God that no one perished," added the relieved father.
Residents have lost basically everything, said Kemma Anderson. The mother of one needed food and clothing for her young daughter, who slept curled by her mother's side.
OPPOSITION VISITS
Councillor for the Denham Town division, Lorna Leslie, said that Opposition Leader Bruce Golding had visited the area to offer support.
"He personally called Food for the Poor," said Leslie.
The councillor herself was thankful to Restaurants of Jamaica for readily providing chicken that she would be distributing to the victims.
Workmen from Contractor Incompar-able Enterprise of which Justin O'Gilvie is head, worked through the night in a bid to have 20 new houses ready by today. "This is the fastest recovery from a fire in west Kingston," Leslie said.
