BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN the wake of Monday’s fire that destroyed the building in which S.L. Horsford’s Credit Services was housed, management has decided to temporarily relocate the cashier activities to its Shipping Department.
A recent press release from the company stated that the Chairman of S.L. Horsford & Co. Ltd., Anthony Kelsick, and the Directors would like to thank the general public for their expressions of sympathy and support over the fire loss of its building on South Independence Square in which its Credit Services Department was located.
“They would also like to express their gratitude to the men of the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services, whose quick and professional response contained the fire to that building and spared any further loss to the surrounding buildings,” the release stated.
It also noted that the company is currently making arrangements to relocate the staff of its Credit Services Department, and that it is now temporarily located at the Shipping Department situated at the corner of West Independence Square and the Bay Road.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Kelsick said they have not been able to access the damage and it was too early to say what had caused the fire, when asked the questions.
He noted that the upper storey of the building was vacant and all documents were secured.
“Fortunately for us, the fire was contained to that one department. We wish to inform our shareholders and the general public that all financial information and information on customers’ records are intact on our computers. Most of the paper documentation also escaped the fire as these were stored in a room that had a concrete roof…and that protected them,” Kelsick said.
SKNVibes also contacted Deputy Fire Chief James Warner, who on Thursday (Jul. 1) informed that the cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Warner explained that personnel from the Fire and Rescue services and the Criminal Investigation Department are conducting a joint investigation, but they were hampered on Wednesday (Jun. 30) by some smoldering remains of the fire. He however indicated that efforts were being made to cross that obstacle and results would soon be forthcoming.
At about 9:30 p.m. on Monday, June 28, smoke was seen coming from the two storey building, located at the corner of West Independence Square and South Independence Square, and an alarm was raised.
Twenty-one firefighters, with assistance from a number of civilians, under the guidance of Deputy Fire Chief Warner, fought the raging fire which seemed to have started in the southern side of the building.
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.
However, the firefighters did an excellent job in containing the fire to the building in which it started. The professionalism and commitment demonstrated by the firefighters were highly commendable, as they worked inexhaustibly until 3:30 the following morning to ensure the flames were extinguished.
