WESTERN BUREAU:
FIRE OF unknown origin razed a supermarket and house in the community of Kingswood Savanna-la-Mar on Thursday morning, leaving an estimated $15 million worth of damages in its wake.
The supermarket, to which a house is attached, and is owned by Lenton Daley, an agent with the Gleaner Company, was completely destroyed by the blaze.
Assistant Superintendent Roland Walters of the Savanna-la-mar Fire Department said yesterday that they received a call at approximately 4:25 a.m. and 12 firefighters responded.
"When we reached the supermarket, it was engulfed in flames. A unit from Savanna-la-Mar attended to it with the help of a unit from Negril," said Walters. "We lost out to the fire when we went to refill the truck."
According to the senior firefighter, the team was forced to fight the flames without breathing apparatus. He said that they had difficulty contacting the Rapid Response Unit and were severely hampered by the lack of a fire hydrant nearby.
"We need more units and we need a good back up of water supplies. It is well and good getting water in the town but to get water even a mile out of town is difficult." Approximately, 50 fire-fighters are stationed at the Savanna-la-Mar Fire Department.
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