By Francine Black, Staff ReporterFORTY PERSONS are now homeless after fire destroyed 14 houses at 78 3/4 North Street, west Kingston yesterday.
The fire, which reportedly started in one of the houses in the tenement yard around 5:00 p.m., quickly spread to several others close by. When the smoke cleared, 14 houses were destroyed.
While only three houses remained at the location, some residents were able to save furniture and appliances. Those not so fortunate lost everything in the fire, the cause of which is still unknown.
"Mi lose everything," Carol Spence, a resident said.
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She estimated her losses at $50,000. Ms. Spence and her six children, as well as several other families are uncertain as to their next move.
"Mama nuh cry," she said to her mother who was on the brink of tears. "Once yuh have life, yuh have hope."
One fire engine and a water tender 45 unit from the York Park Fire Station rushed to the scene of the blaze but fire personnel were hampered when they ran out of water.
When The Gleaner news team was leaving the scene at 7:00 p.m. yesterday, the water tender unit, which had left to refill at some minutes to six, had not yet returned.
The firemen said their efforts to extinguish the blaze would have been boosted if the Trench Town Fire Station which is without a truck was able to respond. An overall estimate of the loss was not available at press time last night.
