Huge fire ruins Geddes Refrigeration

For more than three hours yesterday, firefighters from St Catherine, as well as the Kingston and St Andrew fire divisions, battled a huge fire that eventually destroyed a vast section of the Geddes Refrigeration Limited building off Spanish Town Road, Kingston.

Acting Deputy Superintendent of the York Park Fire Station Dennis Lyon said that thick, dark smoke, which bellowed into the sky in the late morning, was an early indicator that they would need all hands on deck to bring the fire under control.

"Based on the volume of smoke, they needed more help. We dispatched units from Stony Hill, Rollington Town, York Park, and Spanish Town," Lyon said.

"Even before the men entered the building to do the assessment, it was apparent that everything was gone. That's what we were hearing from the men who were getting ready to go inside."

Lyon said there were no injuries.

"We did a head count and everyone was accounted for," Lyon said.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

One of the owners, Dane Lafayette, said that the building comprised a lab, warehouse, and fabricating shop, among other things.

"I am not in the mood to do an interview now. I am sure you can understand," Lafayette said, cutting the interview short.

Workers from neighbouring company Caribbean Flavours stopped their work, as the fire escalated, to assist. They used forklifts to remove the vehicles that were stuck on the compound.

"Due to we are neighbours, we just come give some assistance, and our boss just send us for the forklifts. We saved a couple vehicles and pushed down some doors for the firemen," employee of Caribbean Flavours Alric Blake said.

akino.ming@gleanerjm.com