Fire razes El Socorro warehouse

Paper products, alcohol and dry goods valued over $1 million were destroyed when fire broke out at Geelal’s Wholesale Distributors at El Socorro yesterday.

The fire started around 10 am on the top floor of the three-storey building which was used to store the dry goods and other products. A disoriented owner of the building, Premnath Geelal, said he could not comment on the fire. Geelal was shot in both legs and kidnapped at gunpoint on March 25, 2002 while closing his businessplace. He was released after a ransom was paid. On April 12 last year, Jewan Geelal, Premnath’s 13-year-old son, was also kidnapped. He was freed after an undisclosed amount of money was paid.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Leslie Skeete told Newsday the fire may have been electrical. He added that Fire Prevention Officers will carry out their own investigation today to determine the cause of the fire. Skeete revealed that officers from the Belmont, Arima, San Juan and Wrightson Road Fire Stations responded to the fire. He said that officers were hampered in their ability to deal with the situation in quick time due to the lack of a fire hydrant in the area. Fire officers were forced to shuttle water to the scene in tanks from water collected at a hydrant next to the San Juan Fire Station. He pointed out that 10 percent of the upper part of the three storey building  was destroyed, while the first and second floor suffered water damage. Skeete expressed concern that a fire hydrant is not in the area.

Employees of the businessplace were able to remove a quantity of valuables from the burning building which were then taken to a warehouse at Boundary Road. The El Socorro Road was cordoned off to vehicular traffic and a large contingent of police and army officers carried out guard duties to prevent looting. Persons who wished to get a closer look at the activities were prevented from doing so by police officers.