Millions lost as fires ravage commercial, residential buildings
Published:Friday | July 22, 2022 | 12:14 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Business operators at a section of Premier Plaza in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, are tallying losses that will collectively run them into millions of dollars after a large fire ravaged several shops on Thursday.
The blaze reportedly began about 11 a.m. and affected the operations of several businesses – some temporarily while others will take longer to recover. Although the fire was concentrated at the top of the building, it caused damage to other office spaces.
The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) said it received a call at 11:18 a.m. at the Half-Way Tree Fire Station, and five units were subsequently dispatched.
The employee at one of the affected businesses who had placed that call told The Gleaner that the first unit arrived in roughly five minutes.
“I am happy no one was hurt. I was worried about the safety of my colleagues and others on the building. I am concerned that there will be no work tomorrow, but when? I don’t know,” she said, noting the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of operations.
The businesses most affected by the fire were Essential Lens, Essential Solar, Premier Optical, Chambers Henry and Associates, and Ann Rick Hats and Variety Store.
The massive blaze, which resulted in the busy commercial district being blanketed in thick smoke, attracted a large gathering of curious onlookers as speculation swirled as to the possible source of the inferno.
Workers at Essential Solar, which was greatly affected, are adamant that the fire did not start in their section.
“God nah sleep. You see da building ya, one thing with my boss, it covered a camera so you see when people a say dem nuh catch when it start. My boss catch that,” the worker said.
Several solar panels stored on the roof of the building were destroyed in the blaze, which took firefighters several minutes to contain.
The emergency crew prevented the fire from spreading to another section, where batteries were being stored.
The proprietor of Ann Rick Hats and Variety Store told The Gleaner that while her operation had not suffered fire damage, her stock now had a strong smoke odour.
“The firemen did an excellent job. The government need to pay them more,” she said.
The fire brigade says a thorough investigation will be conducted into the origin of the fire.
Yesterday afternoon, another massive blaze broke out at Norman Crescent in the Corporate Area.
The JFB said that it received a call at 3:15 p.m. and a unit from Rollington Town station attended to the blaze.
No injuries were reported; however, several persons were left homeless in that incident.
Investigators are also probing the cause of that fire.