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Hard time hits family after fire

The house of Titchfield High School Principal Ivy McKenzie that was destroyed by fire in April. - LEIGHTON WILLIAMS

ONE MONTH AFTER fire destroyed their home, Ivy McKenzie and her family are struggling to get back on their feet despite some help from the Port Antonio community in Portland.

McKenzie, who is the principal of Titchfield High School in the parish lost her possessions in a fire which severely damaged their French Avenue home on April 27.

"People have come by and given us a lot of free help because she is a woman who is involved in the church and has been helping people long before she became principal," said Oral McKenzie, son of Mrs. McKenzie.

"It has been rough though because we lost everything and we are still struggling to get back on our feet," he said.

The Port Antonio Fire Department, said the house and its contents were affected by the fire which left $12 million in damages. The fire reportedly started after the heat from a curling iron came in contact with a chair and set the chair on fire. Neither the building nor its contents were insured.

According to Germaine Wilson, one of the men who was at the home helping to remove debris, Mrs, McKenzie was a selfless person.

"If you go to her for help the only way you don't get it is unless her help run out. The word no is just not in her vocabulary that's why we have decided to help her," he said.

"She has been helping people all her life and so everyone was happy to come to the rescue," he added.

Although some members of the community have been helping, Oral told THE STAR that they would be grateful for any additional help as putting their lives back together has been slow going.

"A lot of the commitment for help that we got has so far not materialised, although we are grateful for the little we got. People have promised to help so we are waiting on that help because no matter how small we are grateful for it," he said.