The second fire on Boxing Day left two more families homeless. Here's that story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The fire gutted this two storey house which is located in an alley off number 85 Victoria Street. Tanya Forbes who lived upstairs told us off camera that she wasn't at home when it started.
Tanya Forbes, Fire Victim
"I was behind Police Street to go and get my kids to bring them home but when I came back they told me my house burnt down."
Keith Swift,
Have you heard what happened?
Tanya Forbes,
"Yes my friend called and told me what happened."
Keith Swift,
Were you able to save anything?
Tanya Forbes,
"No I didn't save anything."
Kenneth Mortis, Fire Station Supervisor
"On December 25th at about 5:43 more or less the department received
a call about a house fire at the corner of Barrack Road and Victoria Street. On arrival the location we observed a two storey wooden structure engulfed in flames. The fire was seen coming from the upper portion of the said building. The department got into operation in extinguishing the fire after which an investigation commenced."
Kenneth Mortis from the Fire Department says that the investigation has revealed that the fire was electrical – though Tanya Forbes says they didn't have electricity.
Kenneth Mortis,
"It was only the night before that the tenant for the lower portion of the building decided to run an electrical wire from his neighbour to the said building to give the building light. What we also discovered was that the wire used had electrical charge or a defray in the electrical wire so at the moment our investigation has led us to believe that the fire started from the wire that he used to provide the house with electricity."
Tanya Forbes,
"What we will do? I don't know what to do because I am young and just starting a life and thing but I will continue live my life. I got my little job, TV and those things I can always replace those back. I got help from my family, they give me clothes and things and my boss tried to help me."
The other occupant of the house was Derrick Gentle who also wasn't home at the time. Neither the house nor its contents were insured.
