SXMElections.com

ST. PETERS--A number of dwellings on Apricot Road, just around the corner from Marigot Hill Road, were destroyed by a fire Saturday morning. People were awakened by flames around 7:30am. A group of local young men immediately started to fight the fire. They ensured all dwellings were evacuated, gas bottles were removed from the scene and a tied-up dog was released. They collected water hoses from people's gardens, with which they attacked the flames. A number of fire officers who were on their way home from work diverted to assist, despite not wearing any safety equipment and having just finished a night shift of duty. The officers and the young men teamed up until the fire trucks arrived, some 25 minutes after being called, according to locals. The Fire Department was not available to comment up to press time. Although at least four apartments were destroyed, no one was injured, and residents who were made homeless were supported by family and friends. The dwellings that caught fire were wooden structures built closely to each other. Aside from the tragedy of a number of families losing everything they owned, the atmosphere on the scene was one of togetherness, of community members putting themselves at risk to ensure others were safe. This again became clear in the fact that the victims of the fire were supported and taken in by others in the community. The members of the Fire Department who had diverted from their journey home and the young men who started battling the fire did not have any safety equipment, yet attacked the flames with garden hoses and removed gas bottles from close proximity to the flames. One young man was seen climbing a ladder to attack the flames on top of one of the dwellings with a garden hose, after which he was handed a fire hose by one of the firemen. Police arrived on the scene around 12:30pm, when the Fire Department already had the fire under control. A press release from the police named an electrical overload as a possible cause of the fire. Member of Parliament Hyacinth Richardson, who lives in the area, attended whilst the fire was still ongoing to see the damage and speak to those affected by the fire. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams visited the area a few hours later and spoke to area residents. "It is with a heavy heart that I stand here and talk to those who have lost their possessions during this fire. This is indeed a tragedy, although we should all be thankful to God that there was no loss of life," said Wescot-Williams. She also thanked the residents, especially the young men who had helped contain the fire, and the Fire Department for their professionalism and promptness in ensuring that the situation was not a lot worse. Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake also visited the scene after the fire was put out. His team from Ministry VROMI later arranged temporary housing for the fire victims. Lake commended the young men who had been the first to respond to the fire. "We need to give them credit for their bravery. They alerted the other residents as well, so everybody could move to safety," Lake said. The Minister and Ministry VROMI officials will do a walk-through in the neighbourhood where the fire took place during this week. "These dwellings are fire hazards and a disaster waiting to happen. A better plan and structure needs to be put in place in areas that have dwellings built from wood. This can only be accomplished by working with the landowners. "After the Cole Bay fire several months ago [in October 2013 – Ed.], a team was put together to make recommendations with respect to neighbourhoods that have housing structures which pose a hazard. This is a work in progress. "I would also recommend to GEBE to work with the Fire Department with respect to the placement of fire hydrants in strategic locations in every district and to see how certain areas can be made more accessible in the event of an emergency." This is the third fire within a year where several people have lost their homes. In all cases, the dwellings were wooden structures built closely together. "This is happening much too often for such a small island," said a local man. "We have been lucky so far that no one has been killed. But how many more fires does this island need before the government springs into action and does something about the situation?" Hyacinth Richardson mentioned 1 time
Maurice Lake mentioned 1 time
Sarah Wescot-Williams mentioned 3 times