WATCH: Supermarket destroyed by major fire in Westmoreland
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Westmoreland firefighters are now conducting a second cooling down operation at a supermarket in Savanna-la-Mar after a major fire on Monday night.
All the contents of the supermarket were reportedly destroyed in the blaze.
Observer Online also understands that a firefighter, while battling the blaze, fell into the fire and had to be rushed to hospital.
One clothes vendor, who works in close proximity to the supermarket, and who identified herself as “Tammy” told Observer Online that she has been left saddened by the incident.
“It’s very sad this morning to see that everybody is out of a work. The pharmacy; the supermarket, even we that sell on the roadside because we can’t get to pack out,” she lamented.
“It was a horrible fire last night. When mi come out here and see it, [the] fire tall up inna the air. The fireman dem a try go inna the building. It was unbelievable. Mi feel so sad, Christmas a come and the workers dem out of a job. Dem have kids to feed, Christmas clothes fi buy. Only Father God can help. All now the fire can’t cool – 100 fire trucks and the fire can’t cool,” the distraught woman said.
Reports from the fire brigade are that at about 9:18 pm, they received a call that a building was on fire at Lewis Street. Two fire units were subsequently dispatched from the Savanna-la-Mar and Negril stations.
The report stated that the building, which operated as a supermarket called ‘This One’, was constructed of concrete with slab roofing and two 40ft containers. All its contents were destroyed in the blaze.
Adjoining premises were not affected as the firefighters were able to contain the blaze.
The cause of the fire is presently undetermined and the risk and loss have not yet been ascertained. Investigations are ongoing.
– Kimberley Peddie