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UPDATE: Massive blaze damage Olympian's property as firetrucks run out of water

Published:Sunday | November 3, 2019 | 12:00 AM
A firefighter prepares to attempt to extinguish the blaze at the Skibo Avenue home of Olympian Rupert Hoilett - Andre Williams photo

Olympian and former Kingston College track star Rupert Hoilett is now breathing a sigh of relief after his house was saved from a massive fire that engulfed shops in his premises located at Skibo Avenue, St Andrew this morning.

This after Corporate Area firefighters struggled to extinguish the massive blaze which started on the premises.

Four fire units, which arrived in succession, all ran out of water and had to leave to be refilled.

In the interim, the extinguished areas kept rekindling as the blaze spread.

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IN PHOTO: Rupert Hoilett stands and watches helplessly

Hoilett was in disbelief as he watched from the roadside as shops on the premises where his house is located were engulfed in thick red flames.

"I can't believe it," he said on hearing that the units ran out of water.

Meanwhile, occupants of a nearby shop scrambled to remove furniture and appliances from their building, which by now, was at risk.

Firefighters complained that there was no water in the immediate area, a cry echoed by the residents who said that made it hard for them to try to contain the blaze before the firemen could arrive.

One member of the fire team further said the brigade was under-resourced, adding that it is something about which residents should protest.

Units from Stony Hill and Trench Town eventually arrived to assist with putting out the blaze which was restricted to the shops on the premises.

The fire did not affect Hoilett's dwelling.

Firefighters are still on the scene carrying out cooling down operations.

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