A 48-year-old woman has died in a house fire at the intersection of Bank Hall Main Road and Bank Hall Cross Road, St Michael — the second fatal blaze in Barbados so far this year.
Acting Superintendent Roland Cobbler (left) speaking to the family for the deceased woman. (SZB)
Police have not yet released her identity.
Relatives at the scene, visibly shaken and in tears, said they were too distraught to speak.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Henderson Patrick confirmed that emergency services responded shortly after the alarm was raised.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Henderson Patrick. (SZB)
An emergency call was made around 3 p.m. and 16 officers, including Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard, were deployed. Three water tenders — two from the Bridgetown Station and one from the Bridgetown Port Station — were dispatched.
Patrick said the property housed multiple tenants.
“What we discovered afterwards is that the house was a sublet property. It had seven occupants in it, and I would confirm at this time that one of those occupants at present is showing no signs of life,” he said.
The middle-aged woman died while the house was ablaze.
“We are continuing the investigations to determine the cause of the fire and any other matter that attends to that particular incident,” Patrick said, while urging property owners to remain vigilant.
“The message that we always have for property owners is to exercise as much safety around their property as they possibly could. Not all of the incidents that we encounter, however, are as a result of carelessness by people. Sometimes there are other things that attend to those incidents, and it is always heartbreaking when life is lost in these circumstances.”
He added that the department had extended condolences to the grieving family, noting that recovery would take time given the circumstances.
Member of Parliament for St Michael West, Chris Gibbs, said the incident marked the third fire in his constituency within a month, with each one increasing in severity.
MP for St Michael West Chriss Gibbs was almost lost for words as he spoke about the tragedy. (SZB)
“This is the third fire I’ve had in a month. So each one has gone progressively worse, and my worst fears have come true,” Gibbs said.
“Every time I attend to fire victims in my constituency, the first thing that I look for is that they’re good and they’re healthy and they are alive, but unfortunately, I came on the scene to learn that a lady passed.”
He described the emotional toll of the incident on both the family and the wider community.
“The family is here and I spoke with them and obviously they’re very distraught. It’s a very sad situation. I don’t even know what to say. It’s one of those things that you just deeply, deeply regret and you never want to ever see this.”
Gibbs said the home accommodated seven tenants renting individual rooms, and warned of the dangers posed by everyday household practices.
“It’s pretty bad as far as you can see, my heart just bleeds for the lady and her family. I want to implore people to just be very careful in their homes.”
He added that assistance would be provided to the displaced occupants.
“I will do everything that I can to help these people that are displaced.”
Another deadly house fire earlier this month in Two Mile Hill, St Michael, claimed the life of 98-year-old former police officer Noel Marshall. Marshall, regarded as a pillar of the Bishop’s Land community, died from injuries sustained in the blaze despite efforts by a neighbour and a longtime caregiver, who remains in hospital with severe burns.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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