More fire at People’s Mall

ONE week after a fire devastated the People’s Mall and six stores, resulting in millions of dollars in losses, officers from the Fire Services had to rush to the same area to put out a fresh blaze. About 6.20 pm on Saturday, exactly one week after the big fire, firemen were called in to extinguish a blaze on one of the fire-ruined booths that caught fire again. According to reports, a passer-by observed smoke coming from the building since 10 am. Around 4 pm on Saturday, the smoke increased and by 6.15 pm the roof of the building was well ablaze. Fire Service officers responded by putting out the fire and then removing the roof, several wooden columns and flammable objects from the building.

A fire officer said that while the fire on the outside was put out, with the intense heat still in the place from smoking wood and metal and the sun, it was easy for a fire to be rekindled. “As long as that situation remains as is, there is the danger of a fire just starting up. What is needed now is that all the burnt materials here have to be removed, saturated with water and dumped.” Fire officers also expressed concern about what could have happened if that fire had broken out later at night when no one was around and caught the nearby Mohammed Book Store. “We could have had Saturday the 9th  all over again,” the officer added. The burnt building was located two doors down from the book store. Fire officers also told Newsday that during this week checks would be made on other structures still standing at the site to see if they are still burning.