Fire displaces 17 including 10 children in St Ann
OCHO RIOS, Jamaica — Seventeen people — 10 children and seven adults — have been displaced by a fire which destroyed their home in Refuge Hill, Exchange Thursday afternoon.
Family members told OBSERVER ONLINE that after 4:00 pm they saw fire coming from the back of the building.
The fire, of unknown origin, quickly spread and engulfed the seven-apartment dwelling owned by a 76-year-old blind man Lloyd James and his wife Angella.
Two families were affected by the blaze, which completely destroyed the building.
James said that they have been living at the house for 37 years.
“I don’t feel too bad and I don’t feel too good,” James said, adding that he was happy to be alive despite losing everything.
He said he was rescued from the burning building by his wife.
Both families lost everything including books and school uniform for the children. Three of the children are students at the Ocho Rios High School, one of whom the family said will be sitting external examinations this year.
Homoyo Edwards, who also lived with his family at the house, said he had a sound system which was a major source of income; it was completely destroyed in the fire.
One displaced family is now staying nearby at the house of a relative while the other family is staying with friends.
Renae Dixon