Lucea shops destroyed in early morning blaze
HANOVER, Jamaica — Two shops were gutted by a fire at the Lucea Market in Hanover early Thursday morning.
While details remain unclear, Superintendent O’Neil Henry, who heads the Lucea division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, said the department received an emergency call at 3:49 am.
Two fire units responded — one from Lucea and another from Negril. Firefighters also used seawater from a nearby source to help bring the blaze under control.
Authorities are still investigating the origin of the fire, how it began and the estimated cost of the damage.
The incident follows a major blaze on October 4, 2024, which severely damaged about 28 shops at the market. That fire caused heavy losses for vendors and required assistance from teams in Lucea, Montego Bay and Negril. Firefighters at the time faced challenges due to water shortages.
In Thursday’s incident, officials reported that water supply was available, though pressure was low.
— Anthony Lewis
