Sheena Gayle, Freelance Writer

Western Bureau:

Fire destroyed a commercial building on Barnett Street in Montego Bay last Saturday.

According to an eyewitness the fire started approximately 3:20 a.m. at the rear of the building and then immediately engulfed the two-storey building.

When The Gleaner visited the scene of the fire, damage was evident on the entire second floor and the rear section of the premises.

The commercial building housed a beauty salon, a storage room, furniture and an appliance store.

Corporal Richam Davis, the Constabulary Communication Network liaison officer for St James, said his office has not to date received a formal report on the fire.

An obviously distraught cabinet maker, Neveal Jarrett, who occupied a section of the building, was at a loss as he viewed the burnt debris of what used to be his place of business.

"Right now mi nuh have no plans cause all a mi equipment burn up. Mi lose mi livelihood and over $2 million worth of furniture and equipment" Jarrett lamented. He has operated his furniture store at that location for more than a year.