Arson suspected in multi million $ blaze

The fire gutted the People’s Mall, eight business places and a Ministry of Health office.Yesterday, fireman attached to the Fire Prevention Section, Peter Baptiste, told Newsday that the area in question will be thoroughly checked by a team of fire officers, a forensic expert and the police.

Those investigations are expected to start today when the area has cooled. Initial checks were yesterday carried out by Baptiste and a team of fire officers. Based on the findings of the forensic expert, a report will be sent to the Chief Fire Officer and the Commissioner of Police.

Baptiste admitted yesterday that fire officers heard several different versions of how the fire started. He said while the information was useful, the necessary investigation must be done to prove how the fire started.

Fire Prevention Officers are calling on anyone with information on how the fire started to contact the police. Police investigators confirmed they received a variety of reports including an exploding battery, a shootout between two persons, and arson, as the causes of the fire.

Firefighters also returned to the gutted business places yesterday and extinguished the smoking building which housed Pizza/Burger Boys, Kristina’s and Catwalk. The fire threatened to reignite, but was hosed down by the fire officers.

TTEC workers also returned to the area yesterday to ensure that live wires were not exposed, and to ensure that only the areas gutted by fire were without a supply. Yesterday, Downtown Owners and Merchants Association President Gregory Aboud said while the damage could be estimated at between $25 to $30 million, the figure is increasing as new information becomes available.