Dalton Laing, Gleaner Writer
FIRE YESTERDAY destroyed part of a home where curried dishes were being prepared for the annual Curry Festival held at Manning's School in Westmoreland.
At about 8:00 a.m. yesterday during preparation for the festival, Denise Vickers who occupied a six-room concrete house at Llandilo Phase 3, was at home with two other females, a two-year-old baby and a 92-year-old woman, when the mishap occurred.
It was reported that one of the women was on the verandah cooking a meal when a gas cylinder toppled and the lid broke off. The gas reportedly spilled and was exposed to the open flame when the fire started. All three women tried desperately to put out the blaze using water and a fire extinguisher, but were unsuccessful.
HEAVY LOSSES
Realising the danger, they fled from the house to escape the rapidly spreading blaze. The verandah, kitchen, one bedroom, living and dining room with all their contents were completely destroyed, while other sections of the house were partially affected.
Losses were estimated at over $4 million.
Meanwhile, District Officer Delroy Anderson of the Savanna-la-Mar Fire Department issued an appeal to persons especially those doing bulk cooking, to exercise caution. "Persons should not keep cylinders very close to open flames because that is what caused the fire. The cylinder overturned and the gas started leaking and because it was so close to the stove, it started the fire," Mr. Anderson said.
