80-year-old homeless after fire

A house occupied by an 80-year-old man was completely destroyed by fire yesterday.

Reports revealed that around 2.45 pm, Carlton Arindell of Laventille, was boiling dasheen in a makeshift stove outside his home, when he observed smoke coming from the wooden structure. On checking, he discovered flames inside the house. The house which was located close to the Tokyo Pan Tent at Laventille burned quickly, although residents formed a bucket brigade in an attempt to extinguish the fire. Arindell said that he lost everything in the fire and estimated the damage to the house and his valuables to be in the vicinity of $15,000. Fire officers from the Wrightson Road Fire Department who responded to the call were unable to save the house. It was already gutted by the time they arrived. The fire officers concentrated on ensuring that the flames did not spread to the nearby homes.