Nikoa Inglewood TEN-YEAR-OLD Nikoa Inglewood was burnt to death during a fire which razed 12 houses in the inner-city community of Majestic Gardens, West St. Andrew, Saturday night.
The blaze, which started shortly after 10:00 p.m., left 44 persons, including 20 children, homeless. Most of the victims are now staying with residents in the community.
A student of Dupont Primary, Nikoa, who celebrated her tenth birthday on August 6, was lying in bed just before the fire started. Relatives said she was unwell.
Like most of the houses, it was a two-bedroom unit, with a small outside kitchen. Only the backroom was made of concrete. Reports are that her father, Selvin, who had been lying on the bed with her, had just stepped outside to have a shower. Her mother, Paulette Plummer, had just left the bathroom.
"When me come outside me hear 'fire, fire', de backroom weh Nikoa was sleeping de pon fire, the next room start to blaze to. A could'nt reach inside the backroom fe save me pickney," said Miss Plummer, who watched firemen fight the blaze.
"We are awaiting the results of forensic experts to determine the cause of the fire," said Superintendent Fred Williams of the Hunts Bay Police Station.
Vice-president of a Majestic Gardens Community-based Organisation, Wayne Daley, who is also the uncle of Nokia, said that the Mustard Seed Community and the church responded immediately to the crisis.
While the fire victims were putting the pieces together, members of the community organisations were busy preparing them hot meals. Parcels of food items were also being distributed to the affected families.
"Our Member of Parliament (Portia Simpson Miller) came after the fire and she never leave until about 1:00 a.m. She proposed to help the affected persons," explained Mr. Daley.
The Hunts Bay police through their community outreach programme, has also proposed to help in what ever way they can. "This morning I made personal contribution to a 83-year-old man who lost everything in the fire," said Superintendent Williams.
