But what really went so disastrously wrong with the fire on Rasta Street, apart from the structure of the home and its electrical problems? First responders are said to have made some fundamental mistakes that could have made a difference.
The first of those errors was made by at least one fireman who responded to the scene in nothing but an undershirt, having failed to don the necessary gear to execute his duty. It's a claim we heard from neighbour Amber Grenardo and one we brought up with the station supervisor today.
Amber Grenardo, Eye Witness
"And the fire department came with no water, two trucks came with no water and about 13 men you could believe this and they were in undershirts, they don't even have on their proper thing to help anybody, they didn't come with the intention to help anybody."
Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor
"I have received that information as well and my chief and his deputy we are looking at a disciplinary measure as to how we can go about dealing with that on a dress code basis, our firemen are provided with all the necessary equipment needed to professionally dress and respond to an emergency scene fully clothed and execute our duty as firefighters."
Then, comes the question of whether or not the policemen did enough to save the elderly woman and whether they were prepared to do anything more.
Cherisse Halsall:
"Another claim and perhaps this one is outrageous is that the police who arrived on the scene first, just stood by and watched as this woman burned. So I would like if you could share some information with us. What if any training do policemen get when it comes to dealing with a fire?"
Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor
"Unfortunately, none. That is something that both departments can revisit, it was done in the past whereby we had members from the police department come in and sit on our courses so that they can have an insight of what we go through in the event that they are unfortunate enough to be on a scene then they know how to properly execute firefighting like I said that was some years ago so with all these claims that is something that we can definitely look at in terms of across departmental training. So that each one teach one in the event that you'll become a firefighter if need be."
We asked Mortis whether the police should have or could have attempted a rescue. He says he wouldn't have advised it.
