BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A Newtown family was shocked earlier today (Aug. 20) when it discovered that a portion of their home was destroyed by fire.
According to information relayed to this publication by the Acting Fire Chief Everette O’Garro, a report was made at the Basseterre Fire Station at about 10:29a.m. of a fire at John Street, Newtown.
He said a unit responded immediately and when it arrived, it met the front section of a wooden and concrete structure engulfed in flames.
Swift action taken by the unit resulted in the blaze being contained within a 20-minute period but not before the front portion of the dwelling place was totally destroyed.
O’Garro informed that the fire was prevented from spreading to the back portion of the house although some water and smoke damaged occurred to that area of the building.
The structure reportedly belongs to Rosalyn Wharton and she and her children occupied the dwelling space. O’Garro explained that Lynel Wharton – a child with special needs – was in the house when the fire occurred and had to be removed therefrom.
He also said Desh Wharton – one of Rosalyn’s daughters – explained that she secured the home at about 7:00 a.m. before she left for work and while there, she received a call from someone indicating that the house was on fire.
As for the origin of the fire, O’Garro said it remains unknown.
He is advising however, that home-owners and occupants to “undertake a fire and safety assessment from time to time of their homes and try to reduce fire hazards.”
