Wendell Williams, who experienced the tragedy of his mother losing her home in a Boxing Day fire in Marabella, rushed to the scene of another house fire in San Fernando yesterday to help.
Although the wooden structure was almost destroyed when Williams arrived, he armed himself with a hose and assisted in protecting the house next door until Mon Repos firefighters arrived.
Neighbours said the fire broke out at a house located between North Road and Vistabella Road around 7 am.
Williams, a fitness trainer, said he and his athletes were at the "100 steps" between Mount Moriah Road and North Road when they noticed the thick smoke.
Williams said "I was doing some training with my athletes on the 100 steps and saw the blaze. It was just natural for me to come down because my mother lost her house just a couple of days ago. I decided that I wanted to come and render assistance.
"The house that is burning down right now was on fire so I asked Tanty if everyone here was alright. I took a hose and started wetting the house but I don't know if anyone was there. The house was engulfed in flames so I could not see if anyone was at home. But God is working," Williams said.
The owner of the house next door said he was changing his grandson's clothes when he heard a sound like running water. When he looked out, he saw his neighbour's house on fire.
"I came downstairs, picked up the hose and told my wife to call the fire brigade. I started to do what I could have done to ensure that the fire did not spread across to my property."
The owner of the destroyed house, known only as Ronnie, was not at home at the time. Some residents suspected arson as they said he had problems with other people in the community.
The house had no electricity and running water, and there were not much furniture and appliances. Fire officers were yet to determine the cause of the blaze and an estimate of the losses.
On Boxing Day, 26 people were left homeless after fires destroyed three houses in Marabella, and a home and two businesses in Moruga.