UPDATE: Police identify children who perished in Walkerswood fire
ST ANN, Jamaica — The three young children who died in a fire in Walkerswood, St Ann early Sunday morning have been identified.
They are two-year-old Tavarno Mattis, three-year-old Tashawanie Mattis and seven-year-old Tashana Mattis.
Observer Online understands that the three children were at home with their grandmother and a fourth child when the fire started. The three deceased children were in one room, while the fourth child was in a room with the grandparent.
The woman reportedly saw fire coming from the room occupied by the seven-year-old and two toddlers and raised an alarm. She managed to escape the fire with the child who was already in her room.
While the grandmother was outside, an explosion was heard. Reports indicate that the house was engulfed in flames, and shortly thereafter, that section of the house collapsed.
Units from the Jamaica Fire Brigade in St Ann’s Bay and Ocho Rios later extinguished the blaze. The three bodies were removed and pronounced dead at the hospital. They are now awaiting post-mortem examinations.
An investigation into the incident has been launched by the Ocho Rios Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB).
