BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AN elderly man is left homeless after fire destroyed almost all of his personal belongings and extensively damaged the interior of his Bird Rock residence early this morning (May 26).
Information reaching SKNVibes indicates that 72-year-old Aubrey Pascal, who lives alone in a two-bedroom concrete house at the corner of Dove Lane and Pigeon Cove in Bird Rock, was in the process of lighting his stove when it flared-up.
Both of Pascal’s arms were scorched as he tried to extinguish the fire, which eventually spread to all other sections of his home. However, quick response by a unit from the Fire and Rescue Services in Basseterre brought the situation under control and saved the house from total destruction.
The septuagenarian, who appeared physically shaken, was ambulance-driven to the Joseph N France General Hospital for treatment to his arms and further routine medical checks.
Deputy Fire Chief James Warner confirmed that the fire started by a stove flare-up and told this media house that the Fire and Rescue Services received a report of the fire at approximately 7:40 a.m.
He noted that although the firemen were to some degree affected by electricity that was still energised within the building, they were able to control the fire and extinguish it before spreading to neighbouring homes.
SKNVibes also learnt that some firemen, including Deputy Warner, were shocked several times while extinguishing the flames.
Numerous efforts were made to contact the Electricity Department to stop the flow of current to the building, but there was no response at the time when this media house departed the scene.
