Fire razes complex on Waltham Park Rd

Just when it was looking like another ordinary day for a group of residents of an apartment complex at 111 Waltham Park Road in St Andrew, an unexpected blaze destroyed that notion, along with everything they owned.

Approximately 10 a.m. yesterday, the Half-Way Tree Fire Brigade received a call that a fire had broken out at the apartment complex. But, by the time the firefighters arrived at the scene, three apartments were completely destroyed.

Yesterday, the cause of the fire had yet to be established but, according to one of the residents, it began inside an apartment occupied by a man and his stepson.

"The stepfather was downstairs washing and his stepson called out "fire", and when he ran up there, he saw the fire and tried to out it," a female resident said.

She said she was resting when she heard the commotion and ran out to see what was happening. After noticing that the apartment was on fire, she tried to assist her neighbour in extinguishing it. Their efforts, however, proved futile, as the smoke had become unbearable.

"Nothing don't save ... . Just the TV alone," she said, distressed.

More than eight persons have lost property, including furniture, important documents, clothing and other items.

According to Superintendent. Lanceford Williams, head of the Kingston and St Andrew Division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the blaze was confined to the rear of the building, which consists of seven apartments on the upper floor.

It took seven units and 35 firefighters to get the situation under control.

Williams also noted that he was concerned about the design of the building, stating that it could pose threat to the lives of residents.

"The firefighters had to gain access through a small passage and had to access the premises from adjoining premises," he explained.

There were no reported injuries or fatalities.