ST JAMES, Jamaica — Firefighters have praised the quick action of armed security personnel whom they believed prevented further bloodshed on Wednesday night when two men were shot, one fatally, at the recently opened Barnett Street fire station in Montego Bay, St James.

READ: Two shot, one fatally at fire station

According to OBSERVER ONLINE sources, about 10:50 pm, two armed thugs opened fire at a watchman that was manning the gates of the fire station. He was hit twice, once in the shoulder and again in the groin area. He is now recuperating after surgery.

As the men carried out their assault, they were confronted by an armed team from Hawkeye security company.

One of the armed assailants was fatally shot.

“A good thing the Hawkeye man them was there because me feel say the man them would a run down the man into the station and cause more things to happen,” said a firefighter, who asked not to be named.

His colleague said the gunmen fired wildly during the incident.

Following the assault, bullets were found lodged in cars, air condition units and the fire station’s gate. It is said that more than 20 shots were fired during the incident, forcing firefighters and other citizens in the area to scamper for cover.

One eyewitness said the two men approached from Howard Cooke Boulevard and stopped at a utility pole in the vicinity of the fire station’s entrance. They then began shooting.

It was then that the Hawkeye team, travelling in a car, engaged the men who ran from the area. One of the armed men later collapsed at the intersection of Barnett and Howard Cooke Boulevard. He died at hospital.

“Members of staff are currently distraught, we are making arrangements for them to be counselled,” said fire chief for the parish, Acting Superintendent Rudolph Seaton.

“We are trying to get the pieces together and to make sure that we keep members of staff motivated while we continue to serve the citizens of the parish of St James and the township of Montego Bay,” he added.

There are also plans to beef up security to ensure that his team is safe.

“Plans are afoot to put in CCTV and we’re currently having discussions with management to further [enhance] security arrangements for the premises,” Seaton said.

While expressing relief that no firefighter was injured during the incident he said he was saddened by the attack on the watchman as he carried out his duties.