Two die in fire

The Nassau Guardian

Two die in fire

A woman and a child were killed in a fire that swept through an Abaco shantytown late Tuesday, destroying at least 90 structures and leaving hundreds homeless, according to government officials.

Authorities discovered the charred bodies of the woman and the boy among the debris at Pigeon Pea.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour said police were fairly certain of the identities of the victims, but did not want to release their names until a DNA analysis is completed.

Seymour said he was saddened by the deaths.  He said the fire caused “total devastation”.

The fire, which raged over six hours, began around 9:30 p.m., according to authorities.

“Property of course we can always replace, but the loss of lives... is something that we have to come to grips with and see how best we can bring some resolve,” Seymour said.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

When asked if an electrical shortage — a common cause of fires in shantytown communities — was likely to have caused the blaze, Seymour said he did not want to speculate.

When The Nassau Guardian visited the community yesterday morning, some residents were sifting through the smoldering rubble in an attempt to salvage what they could.

One resident, who claimed he frequents the community, said hundreds of people lost everything and are now in desperate need of assistance.

The man, who did wan to be named, said residents want proper housing with running water and electricity, but are simply too poor to afford it.

“If we had water last night this would not have happened,” he said.

“We had water before when [some] houses caught on fire and we tried to do our best. Some people got buckets of water to throw it over the fire. I don’t live here, but I am always here.

“...I could pay for an apartment. I could pay the rent, but many people can’t pay. They can’t afford that.”

ASSISTANCE

Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and other officials traveled to Abaco yesterday to conduct an initial assessment.

Davis said the government sympathizes with residents and their loss.

He said the government will assist, and will also ensure residents “help themselves” by preventing them from rebuilding unsafe structures with improper electrical set ups, which he called a “trap”.

“For them, they are crying for our help and we intend to help," he said.

"That is why the prime minister immediately dispatched me here this morning to see first hand what is going on.

“We understand and we empathize with the residents here, but I cry out to the residents that they need to help themselves.

"We are going to do our part [to ensure] that they live in safe, sanitary surroundings.”

Davis said a Ministry of Works official has been appointed to monitor the shantytowns on the island to assist in preventing any further structures from being built contrary to proper regulations.

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