Boy and stepdad perish fire

FIRE VICTIM Junior Fortune, 30, died clutching the body of this three-year-old stepson Josiah Taitt, apparently trying to protect him from the blaze which broke out in their Nelson Street apartment building, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

The heartrending sight of the charred remains in an embrace, moved forensic officers and undertakers to tears when they went to remove the bodies from the smouldering ruins.

According to reports, the fire started at about 7 am yesterday, when two tenants of the building described as a 38-year-old Guya-nese woman and her husband, had an altercation. Eyewitnesses said the man’s clothes caught on fire and when he came into contact with a curtain, it ignited. The blaze quickly spread to three nearby apartments.

Fortune and his stepson were asleep when the fire started. They attempted to get out of the burning apartment but were trapped because the only staircase leading out of the building was engulfed in flames and the flooring had collapsed.

Investigators said Fortune and the toddler sought refuge in a bathroom where he hugged the child, trying to protect his tiny body from the flames. The two were burnt beyond recognition.

The man whose clothes caught fire ran to a nearby mobile police unit and informed officers of the incident. He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he is warded in serious condition.

Police and fire officers rushed to the scene to find the building already engulfed in flames. One person was detained in connection with the incident and was being questioned by the police up to late yesterday.

Fire officers prevented the flames from spreading to adjacent buildings and summoned forensic officers to the scene. The area was cordoned off and about 1 pm, the bodies of the two victims were removed to the Forensic Science Centre.

Fire officers told Sunday Newsday the top floor of the building was divided into four apartments which had been rented out. Fortune, Taitt and the little boy’s mother, Jameela Toby lived in one of the apartments. Toby was not at home when the fire broke out. She was on her way to work. On hearing of the fire she rushed to the scene only to discover that her son and companion had perished. Toby stood outside the building and cried. When the bodies from the ruins were removed, her cries could be heard echoing throughout the area. She was comforted by a female relative.

Marvyn Taitt, the father of the dead child, said his son used to live with his aunt in Diego Martin and there had been plans to take him to live in the United States. However, his mother took custody of him last November. Taitt claimed he had not seen his son since then although he had made numerous attempts to visit him.

Fire prevention officers, along with Insp Moonilal, Ag Inspector Morris, Sgt Chattoo and others visited the scene and are continuing investigations.