Fire guts two houses

POLICE suspect arson in one of two fires which destroyed a house in Freeport and Point Fortin, respectively and which left a total of seven persons homeless. In the Freeport fire, mother of four Diane Baptiste reportedly had a heated argument with one of her neighbours before leaving home. Baptiste returned around 7 pm on Wednesday and found her house alight. The house was burnt to the ground.

Baptiste lived in the house with her four children — Vaughn, 19, Karen, 16, Maureen, 14 and Daniel, 12. Losses were estimated at $10,000.  Also on Wednesday evening, a couple from Point Fortin were left homeless when they too lost their home to fire. The two-bedroom house occupied by David Willliams and his wife was gutted by fire at  around 10.40 pm. Damage was estimated at $30,000. The cause of this fire is yet to be determined and investigations are continuing.