Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
The remains of four homes that were destroyed by fire Thursday on Noswad Road, Rockfort, St. Andrew.
FIFTEEN PERSONS have been left homeless following a fire that engulfed four homes on Noswad Road in Rockfort, St. Andrew, Thursday evening. They include eight adults and seven children.
According to residents, the fire started around 4:00 p.m. in one house on the premises but strong winds caused it to spread rapidly to other homes.
"Mi smell smoke an mi tell mi daughter fi go look what a happen roun a Sandra and she run come back a shout fire, fire, fire," Cassandra Lorne, a victim of the fire, told The Gleaner on the scene.
ALL LOST IN FIRE
The distressed mother of three said she had just bought several items for her daughter to attend summer school, starting next Monday, and all was lost in the fire.
Meanwhile, Thelma Blair, also a victim of the fire, was emotional as she related that all her sons belonging had been lost in the flames.
"Him computer, him bed and him passport and all him travel documents gone. Him did fi leave yesterday," she said.
Steve Jackson, another victim, said he was busy helping his neighbours to put out the blaze that had consumed their house when he realised that his was also on fire. "Mi haffi run fi go try save some a mi tings. All mi save a mi bed, everything else gone," he said.
He claimed it took the fire department about half an hour to respond to news of the fire.
Phillip Paulwell, Member of Parliament for the area, said: "On news of the fire, I immediately visited the community and was relieved that nobody was hurt but distressed that so many persons have been affected."
Mr. Paulwell stressed that efforts to rebuild the homes of the affected individuals started almost immediately as members of the community joined hands in the process.
He added that he would be seeking donations from several companies to help but, in the meantime, would be providing food items for the families dislocated by the fire.
