Million dollar fire at AS Bryden and Sons

A dazed looking AS Bryden’s managing director Norman Tang told Newsday while he could not yet put an exact figure to the losses, the company definitely lost millions of dollars worth of stocks including such premium brands as Johnny Walker Scotch Whiskey and Bailey’s Liquor, which were stored at the warehouse.

The early morning fire sent a towering plume of black smoke into the air and caused traffic along the busy Churchill Roosevelt Highway to come to a crawl as motorists slowed their vehicles to gawk at the fire. Some of them even parked their cars on the shoulder of the highway.

The rapid spread of the blaze was compounded by a water shortage in the El Socorro area yesterday which forced fire officials to call on WASA for a truck borne water supply. Using generators and pumps, the firemen used the truck borne water to supplement their own water supply.

According to reports, at about 9.15 am workers in the pharmaceutical section of the warehouse spotted a small fire which they tried in vain to douse using a fire extinguisher. At that time employees from a welding company were carrying out work on the roof of the warehouse.

Minutes later, as the fire rapidly spread, explosions were heard in the southern end of the building where all premium brand liquor was stored.

Other items which went up in flames included diapers, cosmetics, perfumes and deodorants.

Managing director Norman Tang, at a hastily arranged press conference, assured that the job status of employees would not be affected and they would be contacted soon and updated as to their status. Another warehouse which is currently under construction, he said, would be used within a few months time to store goods when operation resumes.

Fire officers struggled for over two hours before they were able to bring the inferno under control. Chief Fire Officer Lennox Alfred confirmed that there was a lack of water in the mains and officers were forced to call on WASA to provide truck borne supplies. Fire appliances from San Juan, Tunapuna, Port-of-Spain and Arima responded.

Divisional Fire Officer St Louis and FSO Griffith, police officers ASP Yearwood, Cpl Jacob, PC Lezama, PC Mohess and Ag Inspector Berment were on the scene yesterday.

Personnel of Amalgamated Services kept the compound safe and free from crowds of curious onlookers.