KINGSTON Jamaica – Residents of Fleet Street and Ladd Lane say the fire that destroyed 12 homes Monday evening engulfed the homes too fast for them to even save anything.

One woman described its rapid progression.

“It’s like it was a minute and then everything was done, literally everything was burnt up. For my three kids, school [items], beds. I didn’t save anything, nothing,” the resident lamented.

The woman, who lives on Ladd Lane said she and a friend had been at home and had smelled the smoke but could not see it.

“The fire came on so quick- my friends came to help me, women [were the ones] who helped me,” she said.

The fire victim said they had no idea how it had started as it spread from neighbouring Fleet Street.

“In my yard alone there are seven households, that is how many people got burned out. Nobody saved anything. [It was] so quick, so sudden you got no time to react,” she added.

Deputy superintendent of police for Kingston central Stacy Ann Waldron Jackson
comforts fire victims (Photo Ramon Thompson)

Member of Parliament for Kingston Central Donovan Williams, who was on the scene, spoke to Observer Online.

“It is going to require a lot of effort to rebuild, restore, console but we are here. Officers are here- we have alerted the relevant government agencies but for now, we just have to be here- and see how best we can ease the stress,” said Williams

READ: Dozens homeless after massive blaze

Video Ramon Thompson