Fire destroys houses in Westmoreland
Published:Friday | January 16, 2009 | 9:04 AM
11 persons are now homeless after fire believed to have been caused from an electrical short circuit destroyed three houses in Grange Hill, Westmoreland yesterday afternoon.
The fire reportedly started in one of the houses and despite desperate attempts by community members, got out of control and spread to two adjoining houses.
The owner of one of the affected houses said that she managed to save most of her furniture and appliances, with the help of members of the community.
However, her families in the other two houses lost everything.
The total damage to the three houses is estimated at just over $5 million and none of them had insurance coverage.
The residents have raised concerns about the time it took the unit from the Savanna-la-Mar Fire Department to respond to the fire.
They say it would have spread even further were it not for help received from the fire-fighting unit from the Sugar Company of Jamaica.
This was the third fire in Westmoreland in less that 24 hours as early yesterday morning, fire destroyed a restaurant and grocery in Frome and an art shop in Belmont.