Wooden house razed after power outage ends

Richard Morais, Gleaner Writer

FALMOUTH, Trelawny

Tameika Frater of 36 Market Street in Falmouth had retired to bed in the dark approximately 10 o'clock Saturday during an electrical outage. Sometime later, she awoke to see her building ablaze and dashed for safety.

While "I could only save the clothes on my back" is often said on such occasions, Frater was not able to do even that much as she had to rush out in only a towel. She said she saved nothing.

sparks on power line

While the fire brigade confirmed the incident, no authorised person was available to make a comment. Eyewitnesses said the flames started when electricity returned. Many reported seeing sparks on the power line before the fire started.

The lone occupant said she had not lit any flames, whether candle or lamp, and that she was baffled at the origin.

While Frater was alone at the time of the fire, she shares the four-apartment wooden dwelling with her infant daughter, her sister and her sister's infant daughter. The value of the property and its contents has been put at approximately $5 million.