Fire leaves seven homeless in Tobago

Some seven persons were rendered homeless Thursday when fire of unknown origin destroyed a five-bedroom dwelling house at Cadiz Street, Buccoo, Tobago.

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 erupted around 10 am. Leith, who was described as ‘sickly’ by his nephew Peter Leith, was attending out-patient clinic at the Scarborough Hospital when the tragedy occurred. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire apparently started in a ‘middle room’ where a mattress was ablaze.

Neighbours initially attempted to put out the blaze but were overpowered by the raging flames when it ignited the roof and engulfed the 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, who were both living there, collapsed in grief and had to be revived by several persons.  Another tenant was able to salvage three bottles of liquor as well as a few of his girlfriend’s personal belongings, including a purse, said to contain a sizeable sum of money. Fire Services personnel from the Scarborough Station responded and eventually brought the fire under control; by which time the home was completely gutted.