12 homeless after Morvant fire

TWELVE people were yesterday rendered homeless after a fire completely destroyed a two-storey concrete house at Cipriani Avenue, Second Caledonia, Morvant.

However, for one of the homeless, it was divine intervention, according to fire and police officers on the scene. The woman, Eucdina Callendar, 65, the only occupant in the house at the time, said when she awoke, she felt lonely and decided to visit a neighbour a short distance away. A short while after, Callendar said, she was told to “look up”, and she saw her house on fire. “I am lucky that I left the house,” she said. Callendar, who lived with her four grandchildren, ages 3, 5, 16 and 21, said she lost everything in the fire. Fire prevention officers are to return to the scene today and are working on the theory that the fire was caused by electrical problems. Preliminary reports on the fire, according to acting Fire Station Officer Stephen Registe, are that around 1.20 pm, resident Ashia Sambrano saw a fire on the northern side of the upstairs house.

Registe said she contacted 990, the Fire Control at the Chaguanas Fire Station, who then relayed a message to the Morvant Fire Station. Tenders from Belmont and Morvant responded and found the building engulfed in flames. One resident, who identified himself as Adwin John, complained that the fire officers came, but soon after ran out of water and had to go for more. He said they had to leave the scene to go to a hydrant on the Eastern Main Road, Laventille, for additional water. However, he said, firefighters did not leave the area until they were absolutely certain there was no danger to lives and other property. The four-apartment house is owned by Greta Anderson, who resides in the United States and was insured with GTM.   The caretaker is Jacqueline Sambrano.  Investigations are continuing.