Police say up to 50 homes in ruins

A HUGE fire ripped through the Haitian Village community off Joe Farrington Road last night, prompting a major response from emergency services.

As The Tribune was going to press last night, fire chief Walter Evans was able to confirm that 40-50 homes had been destroyed in the blaze, with an estimate of 150 people displaced as a result.

There was no word of how many people had been hurt in the blaze, and no indication as to what may have started the fire.

Police confirmed that the event was being treated as a major incident, and that NEMA may be activated to deal with the outcome of the disaster.

Early indications had been that the whole of the compound was going to be destroyed in the blaze, and firefighters worked hard to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.

Heavy rain was said to have hardly helped at all in the fight against the fire, but shortly after midnight fire crews were getting control of the blaze and containing it to the area already affected.

Residents were out on the streets around the area of the blaze, with witnesses saying that many were in tears as the fire ripped through the houses.

One young Haitian man at the scene said that the fire had burned up all of his identification documents.

Emergency services said that more information - including what arrangements would be made to provide shelter by those displaced in the fire - would be made available this morning.

For more details, see www.tribune242.com.

Comments

JohnDoes says...

Hmm, I wonder if this is retaliation from the landlords who cant get the immigrants out after eviction. I hope no one is injured or dead.

Posted 23 July 2013, 12:03 p.m. Suggest removal

B_I_D___ says...

Never want to cause anyone ill will, and disasters of this proportion are truly tragic, floods, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. Only downside here is you know have upwards of 150 people, who if they were lucky enough to have legal documentation and permission to reside here, they are all more than likely undocumented people. It's not going to be easy for them at all to get all those documents and ID's and paperwork restored...let alone all the other personal belongings and trauma and stress of going through a nasty fire. Do not envy them at all, legal or not.

Posted 23 July 2013, 1:26 p.m. Suggest removal

lazybor says...

Tragedy, but not unexpected...<img src="http://tinyurl.com/c7l9ck6" width="1">

Posted 23 July 2013, 2:46 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Wish all well be safe, particularly the little innocent children.

Posted 23 July 2013, 3:37 p.m. Suggest removal

Nationalist says...

I'm suspicious!! How is it that such fires are now commonplace? A new phenomenon...ummmm. I think it's deliberate, could even be an inside job!!

Posted 23 July 2013, 9:29 p.m. Suggest removal

Seriously says...

Can't find papers huh... Round me up

Posted 23 July 2013, 11:37 p.m. Suggest removal

honeyp says...

Some persons said that they were at 'WORK'...ummmmm!! At work they say!!!

Posted 24 July 2013, 9:34 a.m. Suggest removal

jackflash says...

Please don't send them here, The Mud done full and Pigeon Pea is getting bigger and bigger each month...

Posted 24 July 2013, 12:03 p.m. Suggest removal

vivianeportman says...

Although fifty families were left homeless, let's hope that no one was severely injured during the blaze. The first thing the authorities must do now is to provide shelter for these poor people and later to help rebuild their homes. On <a href="http://palmerwest.net">http://palmerwest.net</a> can be found valuable information regarding roofing that would come in very handy during the reconstruction. So, the authorities should definitely consider this resource.

Posted 17 June 2015, 11:20 a.m. Suggest removal

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