Families displaced after inferno
Several families are now displaced and left to contemplate their next move following a massive fire that gutted homes and commercial properties yesterday morning at premises along Sutton Street and an adjoining residence on Duke Street in Kingston.
Information reaching our news team is that five fire units from York Park, Trench Town and HalfWay Tree, along with 35 firefighters, responded to a call received at about 8:13 a.m. yesterday that buildings at 30 Sutton Street and 72 Duke Street were ablaze.
Occupants at the Sutton Street address told THE WEEKEND STAR that they lost everything.
Anthony Brown, who had been living at the residence for eight years, said, “Nothing is saved, only the clothes on my back. Some people from Ministry of Labour and Social Security came and talk to us. Right now, inside a me a burn.”
He told our news team that he lost appliances and furniture.
“All now I don’t know my next move. Mi lose TV, bed, stove, refrigerator, dresser, and radio,” Brown said.
He told THE WEEKEND STAR that the premises was home to six children and 10 adults, all of who are now displaced.
Over by 72 Duke Street, proprietor Cecil Thomas was equally depressed.
“A 22 years mi live here suh. Mi lose a lot of tools in the fire. A Earth and the system, you afi go tru it. All the while me see it reach people, but a my time,” he said.
A bar, printery, and snack shop were also destroyed.
Motorists were inconvenienced as the police cordoned off Sutton Street between the intersections with East Street and Duke Street.
Assistant Superintendent Horace Thomas told THE WEEKEND STAR that two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze.
He said, “They were treated on site. There was no injury to any civilian.”
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.