Jamaica: Fire leaves 19 homeless, putting damper on season
“A one of di most painful Christmas this!” a dejected Richard Brown said on Tuesday as he surveyed the devastation after a fire reduced the nine-bedroom dwelling he called home to charred rubble.
The fire broke out at the George’s Lane, central Kingston home about 6 p.m. on Monday, leaving 19 people, including eight children, homeless days before the Christmas holidays. No one was injured during the blaze, and no cause has been determined.
Brown told reporters that he was out in the town when he received news that his house was on fire, and he rushed home immediately.
“Three weeks ago, mi just have a newborn, and right now a pon di streets him deh, so it’s not a good feeling,” said the father of three.
But he is grateful that he saved some furniture and other items, and he has his community members to thank, noting that they heroically stepped up to help.
“Wi live with some good people ya same way. Careless weh people seh bout di community, everybody give a helping hand and did a good job because if it wasn’t fi dem, wi wudda burn out even more,” he said.
But now, as he and other families who lived in the house deal with the loss, Brown hopes others will help the families recover.
“Right now, we’re willing to [accept] any help we can [get]. A dat a di mission – just a roof over wi head so wi can rest back wi head. Streetside wi deh. As you can see, wi tings dem out here and everything. Nowhere to turn to,” he said.
Rosalie Hamilton, councillor for the Rae Town division, told The Gleaner that she visited the affected families to assess the damage done by the fire and was able to donate two beds to two of the affected women immediately.
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She also said Kingston Central Member of Parliament Donovan Williams visited the families and donated food items.
She said they will also be receiving additional help from other social services.
“Some of the [sections] just want back windows and doors. [Poor Relief] will come and do the assessment, and whatever the needs are, they will first apply. They will get help; they will get help,” Hamilton said.
Brown is hopeful that the help will come in time for the holidays. He recalled how the yard, which hosts members of his extended family, was always abuzz with activities and laughter at Christmastime. He lamented that now, everyone is scattered, sheltering in the homes of Good Samaritans, who were kind enough to offer short-term accommodation.
“We are always happy. All when wi nuh rich, wi happy same way … . Everybody a di yard a working people, so wi work save wi likkle money and enjoy wiself just like everybody else when the season come,” the 37-year-old Brown, who works as a mason, told The Gleaner.
His cousin, Shakeim Campbell, was still shocked by the harrowing ordeal when The Gleaner visited on Tuesday.
“It was my first experience and it neva nice. Mi nah wish this pon mi enemy or nobody at all … . Fire, worst experience,” the 26-year-old ex-soldier said. “Mi neva expect dem something ya fi a happen to him. Mi shock.”
Unlike Campbell, Cecil Walker had witnessed other relatives’ houses being reduced to ashes, but the 55-year-old never imagined he would one day have a similar encounter.
Nonetheless, he remains optimistic.
“I feel persuaded that God will see me through. God will take care of it, in spite of ... because He is the One that perform in mysterious ways through humanity,” he said.
Angella Green has been living at the property for the last two years. She, too, is struggling to cope with the loss.
“Mi sad, but mi can’t do nothing. Mi can’t mek dis send mi a hospital,” the 45-year-old woman said.
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