FAIRY HILL, Portland — Residents of Fairy Hill are puzzled by a fire that gutted four shops and left one standing on the same property after 3:00 am Tuesday.

As news of the fire spread so did rumours on social media that it was politically motivated, following a demonstration in the same vicinity on Monday over the dust nuisance caused by the construction of the southern coastal highway from Harbour View to Port Antonio.

However, superintendent of police in charge of Portland, Lloyd Darby rubbished the rumours in a press release.

“About 3:30 am four shops were destroyed by fire in the Fairy Hill community of Portland. We are not yet able to determine the cause of the fire. The fire department and the forensic team from the Jamaica Constabulary Force are currently investigating,” he said.

Darby said the posts implied that people associated with Portland Eastern Member of Parliament Ann-Marie Vaz set the fire.

“We want to put an end to this rumour and just to point out that the campaign manager of Minister Daryl Vaz was also a victim of that fire. We want persons to be responsible in what they post as we don’t want anything to incite any form of political animosity or political violence in the parish. We just want persons to know that there is no truth to these postings; and we are investigating and we will let the public know when we have a resolution,” he said.

Andrew Wright and and his wife Claudia “Dawn” Richards-Wight, who operate a bar and cook shop, said they lost everything in the blaze.

“It is a total loss,” Richards-Wight told the Jamaica Observer, pointing out that large appliances and gaming machines were among the possessions in the buildings.

“We rented the place… it was not insured so we are on our own,” she added.

Wright said even though the appliances were inside the buildings they don’t leave them plugged in overnight, therefore he was sure the fire was not electrical.

Marie Taylor was in shock although her building was not razed.

“My cousin call me saying the place is on fire so we quickly rushed out there. We opened the bar and went in, some water was inside so we threw it on the back as the fire was catching the back… a so my part save,” she said.

David Brown, who lost his grocery shop and dwelling, said he was alerted about the fire by a friend.

Assistant Superintendent Everol Brown of the Port Antonio Fire Station said when his team arrived at the scene they saw four structures engulfed in flames.

“We immediately engaged two jets and used a portable pump in a tank that was nearby. The operation lasted about two and a half hours as the fire was contained and fully extinguished,” he said.

“The estimated loss is $13 million and property at risk $17 million, he said. “Neither contents nor building were insured. We have not yet arrived at the cause of the fire as we are investigating,” Brown said.