By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

A FIRE destroyed 35 units in a storage facility yesterday, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of damage and the loss of hundreds of National Insurance files.

Among the units that were burned completely to the ground, were several which were rented by the National Insurance Board, The Tribune understands. The documents lost included invoices and receipts for services, some current and others dating as far back as 2010.

By the time NIB officials arrived at the scene to assess the damage, The Tribune was told, the documents had been reduced to ashes and nothing could be retrieved.

The incident happened around 11pm off Blake Road at a facility called Store Away.

According to Fire Chief Walter Evans, the fire began shorty before 11pm but firefighters responded immediately preventing the blaze from spreading.

“We got the call and responded right away. We met a fire coming from one block. It was the only area that was affected out of the 20 buildings in the yard,” he said.

“Luckily we got there in time to prevent the fire from spreading to any of the adjacent buildings. About 40 units were destroyed. We do not know the cause of the blaze at this time. There were five firetrucks from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and one unit from the airport crash and rescue.”

According to sources, management at the Store Away spent the entire day yesterday assessing the cost of the damage - which is estimated to be in the tens of thousand of dollars.

Persons who have items stored in the units are being asked to contact the company and provide them with an itemized list, so they can be reimbursed.

When contacted the company declined to comment.

Investigations are continuing.