Fire brings dread in Central Kgn

A thick plume of smoke hung over sections of downtown Kingston on Wednesday afternoon as a raging fire consumed two tenement properties, leaving at least nine adults and six children homeless.

Twenty-five-year-old Yanique Ross, who was conducting business elsewhere in the area, was stunned when she got the heart-rending phone call that her Text Lane home in Central Kingston had burned to the ground.

The mother of three young children – ages one, three, and eight years old – was among residents of the two tenement properties known as 1A and 1B that were gutted by the flames.

A total of five rooms made from wood were flattened by the blaze.

Left in a state of distress, Ross explained to The Gleaner that this was her second encounter with fire within the last two years. Her previous dwelling, she said, was destroyed after a fire-bombing attack on her neighbours’ home as the flames spread to hers.

An identification card and her cellphone are the only things she had on her person.

“Me nuh really know weh me a go do now because a me three kids me live with. Mi no have no father. Mi no have no mother. Mi no have nobody with me kids dem,” she said.

She said that with none of their possessions saved, she was unsure of her next move even as she hoped to recover quickly and to be able to send her children to school.

Ross’ sister, Monique Ross, who lives with her husband and 11-year-old daughter, has also lost her home. She managed to save a few items of clothing, but the majority of her belongings were also torched.

MEMENTOS LOST

Monique said that a room filled with her late mother’s possessions was also burnt to the ground. She stated that although her mother died last September, she had not yet come to terms with her death. Hence, her possessions were left untouched.

She told The Gleaner that she was also not at home when the fire started, but she got the call from her daughter, who had to run from the room to save her life.

“Me daughter run out and say, ‘Fire! Fire! Fire!’ and start panic and a run all over the place,” she said, noting that she was one of many who alerted the community to the unfolding disaster.

Ross and Ricardo Gordon, another affected by the fire, are both vendors in downtown Kingston.

They said that thousands of dollars worth of goods stored in their homes was lost.

“Me nah tell no lie, it devastating,” Gordon said, adding that he was unsure of how he would be able to get his money back.

Locals stated that they were not aware of what caused the fire. They believe the fire started from the back of the property, where a gully runs below.

One man, who did not wish to give his name, was at a loss for words as he stared into the distance, standing still with an emotionless expression on his face but the pain evident in his eyes.

He told The Gleaner that he had lost all his possessions and was left with only the white merino, a pair of white shorts, and a pair of sandals he was dressed in.

Three units from the Jamaica Fire Brigade responded to the incident.

Investigations continue.

Those interested in offering assistance to Monique Ross can contact her at 876-381-2802. Yanique Ross can be contacted via telephone at 876-875-7180.

asha.wilks@gleanerjm.com