A pensioner from Sea Lots was yesterday saved from serious injury as her neighbours quickly responded to extinguish a fire at her home.
In an interview with Guardian Media as fire officers inspected the ruins of the modest home at Production Avenue, Sea Lots, Josanne Williams said she had moments before left her mother’s home around midday to prepare lunch.
“I hear a noise and I thought it was a firecracker. When I went outside I see my mother’s house on fire,” Williams said.
She said she screamed out for help and neighbours quickly responded.
“I start to scream because she was still inside but somebody break down the door and got her out,” Williams said.
The residents formed a bucket brigade and used water from a nearby ravine to extinguish the fire.
By the time fire officers from the Wrightson Road Fire Station responded, the fire had almost been totally extinguished.
Williams said she could not estimate the costs of the damage but said that her mother, Cecilia, had lost all of her belongings.
“Right now I am not worried about that. I am just happy my mother is alive,” Williams said, as she thanked her neighbours for their assistance. Fire investigators were still determining the cause of the fire, up to late yesterday.
Meanwhile, a Carenage woman also escaped injury after an arson attack on her home on Tuesday night.
According to reports around 9 pm, residents of Haig Street, Carenage contacted fire and police officers after they noticed smoke coming from a house owned by Cheryl-Lyn Roberts and saw a man running away from the scene. Roberts was not home.
Fire officers were unable to save the house as it was already engulfed in flames when they arrived. Roberts reportedly told police that her estranged male companion had threatened to set fire to her home a couple weeks ago.
The suspect had not been arrested by police up to late yesterday.
The damage to Roberts’ home is estimated at $300,000.
