Edmond Campbell and Daraine Luton, Staff Reporters

The burnt-out dormitory of the SOS Children's Village in Stony Hill, St. Andrew, where two girls died Monday night, as a result of smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is still unknown and damage is estimated at $1.5 million. - Photo by Brian Carless

Christmas for most children and staff at the SOS Children's Village in St. Andrew may not be that merry.

And it is not because they are in a home for orphaned and abandoned children. Despite being tight-lipped for the most part, officials at the SOS said they are saddened by the death of two children as a result of a fire at the home Monday night.

Eight children lived in the apartment the fire gutted about 7:45 p.m. Monday. Four-year-old Abigail Lee and five-year-old Antoinette Cranston died while the others escaped serious injury. The house mother, however, had to be treated for shock at hospital.

Deeply saddened

Through a press release, National Director Anita Tharpe said SOS is "deeply saddened by last night's (Monday) tragic fire, which led to the death of our young girls."

Chief executive officer of the Child Development Agency (CDA), Alison Anderson, who also issued a statement said: "Speaking for myself and for all the members of the CDA team, this has certainly put a damper on Christmas for all of us."

Ms. Anderson expressed concern about the children at SOS "who now have to spend Christmas without their loved ones and void of the happiness and laughter that this season brings."

The CDA and SOS have said they will be providing ongoing professional assistance for the children and staff at SOS for as long as is required.

Meanwhile, police and fire brigade personnel were still continuing investigations into the circumstances which led to the toddlers' death as a result of smoke inhalation.

Despite numerous attempts to tour the facility, The Gleaner team was prevented from entering the premises. A security guard, stationed at the gate said he was given strict instructions not to disclose any information to the media or to allow members of the press access to the property.

An SOS official said the security arrangement was made with the interest of the children in mind.

Children's welfare

"There are a lot of young children in there, too young to understand what has taken place, but we can't allow everybody to come inside at a time like this. The children's welfare is at the heart of everything," said the official who asked not to be named.

At least four children have died in children's homes since the start of the year. In May, two-year-old Joel Wong died in hospital after ingesting prescription medication at the Glenhope Place of Safety in Kingston. Last month, 11-year-old Gregg Madorie died at the Bethlehem Children's Home in downtown Kingston. Madorie was troubled by seizures but, based on the numerous bruises on his body, his mother suspects foul play. An autopsy performed on the body failed to reveal the cause of death and the CDA is awaiting the results of a histology to determine if an investigation should be launched.