SCORES OF persons in St Catherine, St Elizabeth, and Westmoreland are now homeless following four fires which affected their residential dwellings on the weekend.

According to a release from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) yesterday, fire of unknown origin destroyed a six-apartment dwelling in Thatch Walk, St Elizabeth. About 1 a.m., a neighbour heard a loud banging sound and went to investigate and discovered that the house was ablaze.

Similarly, in Westmoreland, a fire, believed to be caused by a lit candle, destroyed a four-apartment board dwelling on Hermitage Road. Reports are that at approximately 1:55 a.m., neighbours discovered that the house was on fire and alerted occupants.

In St Catherine, it is believed that a fire of unknown origin destroyed a two-bedroom board structure and also damaged a concrete house on March Lane yesterday morning. It is believed that occupants of the house were asleep when they were awakened by the smell of smoke and saw the place on fire. The fire quickly spread to the other house and the police and fire units were alerted.

Another fire, which is believed to be the work of arsonists, destroyed a three-bedroom apartment in Union Estate, St Catherine, on Saturday. Reports are that about 4:55 p.m., occupants of the apartment were involved in a dispute when shortly afterwards, fire was seen coming from one of the rooms.

It is reported that two of the houses were not insured. No information was given about the others.