WESTERN BUREAU – Up to press time, firefghters had still not determined the cause of Tuesday’s fire that gutted a five-apartment home in Falmouth, Trelawny.

The blaze, which left a woman and two children homeless, brings to 42 the number of people who have been displaced because of fire in the parish since the start of the year.

At about 1:30 pm Tuesday, an occupant of the house was reported to have seen fire coming from a rear room of the one-storey board dwelling along Wellington Street in the town. The fire department was called in and a unit from the Falmouth fire station responded with a team of six firefighters and an acting district officer, according to acting Deputy Superintendent Dolfin Doeman.

“The cause of the fire is unknown. The persons (firefighters) on the scene at the time would have investigated to see what evidence (there may be to determine the cause of the fire). Having done that, I guess they couldn’t come to a conclusion as to what really took place,” Doeman told the Observer on Wednesday.

The fire has left destruction in its wake. Not only have three people been left without a home, but damage to the uninsured property is estimated at $1 million.

The fire brings to 15 the number of structural blazes that have occurred in the parish since the start of 2004. The last such fire destroyed a two-bedroom house at Coopers Pen in the parish on June 20 and displaced two adults. Damage was estimated at $200,000. That home was not insured either.

Doeman has encouraged residents to take better precautions in an effort to guard against fires in the parish.

“We ask (people) to be a little more careful around the home. Do not leave candles, or open lights such as lamps, unattended,” he said.

He added: “Ensure that your electrical wiring is safe, things like plugs and switches. And do not leave matches lying around for your small children to have access to.”