Probe continues in $M TOBAGO fire

Police, Fire Prevention and TTEC officials walked through the rubble as they continued to search for clues as to the cause of the blaze which left millions of dollars in losses.

Two firemen were injured while fighting the blaze, a male officer who reportedly fell through the flooring of the two-storey building and a recently-enlisted female firefighter who was said to have been overcome by smoke inhalation and exhaustion.

Both were removed from the scene and taken by ambulance to the Scarborough General Hospital. Several fire officers attempted to prevent members of the media from taking photographs of the fallen female firefighter.

The blaze broke out about 3 pm, attracting a large crowd. The area was quickly cordoned off and traffic came to a standstill, backing up all the way to the Claude Noel Highway where the traffic situation was compounded by an accident earlier in the Canaan area.

The American Stores retail outlet located at the back of the warehouse was not damaged.

A worker at the retail outlet reported that a passerby alerted them to smoke emanating from the roof of the warehouse.

The worker told police that by the time they rushed out to investigate, flames were already raging within the upstairs section of the warehouse.

A tender from the Scarborough Fire Station responded and firemen were forced to use sea water from nearby Rockly Bay to augment their fresh water supply.

After about an hour, the blaze was brought under control but flames fanned by a strong Atlantic breeze soon re-ignited the fire.

A TTEC utility truck, with an extended bucket at the end of the hydraulic ladder, was used by firemen to battle the blaze.