Buccoo fire leaves 7 homeless

A FIRE of unknown origin destroyed a five-bedroom house at Cadiz Street, Buccoo, Tobago, leaving seven persons homeless.

The house was occupied by four tenants and the ailing owner, 90-year-old John Leith. No one was injured in the blaze. Losses have been estimated at $250,000. No one was at home when the fire started at around 10 am. Leith, who was described as “sickly” by his nephew Peter was attending an outpatient clinic at the Scarborough Hospital. Neighbours attempted to put out the blaze but it spread quickly, igniting the roof and engulfing the entire building.

Several occupants of the house openly wept on the scene as they watched their belongings going up in smoke. One man, said to be the husband of the owner’s niece, collapsed in grief and had to be revived by several persons. Fire officers from the Scarborough Station responded and eventually brought the fire under control but the house was completely gutted.