Fire destroys ice factory, offices in San Fernando

Destroyed in the fire were the law offices of attorneys Ian Gray, Frederick Neptune and Lee Ann Haynes. The popular pub Belle Bagai and an ice factory also went up in flames.

Belle Bagai’s owner Nigel Williams expressed anger yesterday, saying that a fire hydrant just obliquely opposite the burnt-out premises had no water. Responding to the call, fire officers from Mon Repos Fire Station were forced to seek assistance from Couva and King’s Wharf Sub-stations’ fire appliances. Williams said he saw his pub go up in flames as fire officers tried without success to pump water from the hydrant. The building was a concrete and wooden structure owned by William Brown.

Eyewitness Kevin Grace, who lives metres away, told Newsday that he heard a crackling sound at 3.32 am. On investigating, Grace said, he saw an electrical wire hanging low along the street between poles. Grace said he noticed that one of Belle Bagai’s canopies was on fire. He said he telephoned the San Fernando Police Station.

San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherly, who visited the scene, stressed the need for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to put a hotline in place to efficiently respond to fire calls. The mayor reminded that the suggestion had already been made to WASA after San Fernando West MP Diane Seukeran suffered tremendous losses when her Lower High Street mall was destroyed by fire almost a month ago. Business owners had blamed the unavailability of water from nearby hydrants for the extent of the fire damage.

Atherly said, "A system is urgently needed to monitor the operations of the public utilities to avoid situations like these from occurring."