BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FIREFIGHTERS from the Basseterre Fire and Rescue Services Department last night (Jun. 28) battled a raging fire for more than two and a half hours that severely damaged the two-storey building that houses S.L. Horsford’s Credit Service at the corner of West Independence Square and South Independence Square.
According to eyewitness account, smoke was seen coming from the upper storey of the building sometime after 9:30 p.m. and an alarm was raised. A unit from the Basseterre Fire Department quickly arrived at the scene and commenced battling the fire, which seemed to have started in the southern section of the building.
But while the firefighters were pouring water on the stubborn blaze, the fire quickly spread to the western section as the flames tore through the wooden building with thick black smoke rising to the sky.
There was only one fire tender at that time, and as the fire grew in intensity, the flames began licking at the building south of the engulfed one. However, because of its concrete structure, the fire only scorched the wall. The flames had also spread across West Independence Square and were threatening the building that houses Horsford’s Insurance Agency on Bank Street. Fortunately, two fire tenders based at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw Airport arrived and firemen sprayed the building with water, which prevented it from being consumed.
During this stage, a crew from the Electricity Department turned up at the scene and quickly cut all power lines leading to the burning building.
It is also worthy to note that from among the thousands of people present, a number of them braved the intensive heat and volunteered their service by assisting the firefighters in such areas as fetching hoses and attaching them to the fire hydrants.
The fire continued in its rage as the orange and yellow flames lit the night sky; but the two fire tenders, armed with Monitors, produced continuous heavy, forceful sprays of water that eventually curtailed its spread.
At approximately 11:15 p.m., the fire seemed to have been under control; only small blazes were seen in the upper storey. But suddenly there was a crashing sound as the roof caved in and the fire then spread to the lower concrete section of the building.
The firefighters quickly commandeered the Electricity Department’s vehicle and used the mechanical platform to hoist a man close to one of the windows on the northern side of the building. From that vantage point, he was able to effectively fight the small fires in the upper storey.
Meanwhile, another firefighter broke a window on the western side of the lower storey to provide members of his unit the opportunity to spray water on the fire, while another group had broken the door on the northern side to gain access into the building.
Speaking to onlookers, one of them told SKNVibes that the Fire Department needs to be better equipped.
“There is only one fire truck at the Basseterre Fire Department and it is not affixed with Monitors as the two from the airport. If aircraft were expected to arrive tonight at our airport, what you think would have happened to Basseterre’s commercial centre? There is a need for more fire trucks and they must not only be equipped with Monitors, but also platforms. If they had platforms like the one on the Electricity Department’s vehicle, the firemen would have been better able to put out the fire…and in record time. Look at how many gallons of water were wasted with them trying to put out the fire from below. It is time that the authorities consider purchasing modern equipment for the firemen,” the onlooker said.
When this media house departed the scene at about 11:45 p.m., firefighters were still working feverishly to ensure that all flames were completely out. SKNVibes was unable to get a comment from Fire Chief Hester Rawlins, who was at the scene directing his men, and also to get an estimate of the damages.
The Fire Department must however be commended for the excellent job its members completed last night, despite not being in possession of the type of equipment that would make their tasks easier.
These are the type of professionals the capital city of St. Kitts had needed during the Great Fire of 1867 and the fires that destroyed A.M. Losado Ltd. in Bank Street, the Court House in George Street and East Independence Square, and the George Sahely building that later housed All Kinds of Things in College Street Ghaut.
