Penal fire leaves four homeless

The fire, which broke out at Church Street, Smart Avenue in Penal, left four persons homeless among them a prison officer.

Homeless are mother of six, Ann Hunte, 65, and her children Gavin Hunte, 39, Carol John, 29, and Alfred John, 26, who is a prison officer. Carol is employed with the Airport Authority.

Reports are the mother was at home alone at about 8 am when a neighbour alerted her about flames at the rooftop of the kitchen area. Hunte’s son, Anthony Hunte, who lives a short distance away, recalled that the flames quickly spread and destroyed the four bedroom concrete and wooden two-storey house.

It also spread to the neighbour’s house causing damage. Luckily residents who rushed to aid both families managed to contain the flames from completely destroying the house of the Dookie family.

“Everyone went to work so Mom was home alone. A neighbour shouted that there was fire on the roof. Everyone (residents) really tried to help but the pressure was just too high and the breeze was strong. We lost everything.

If it was a flood, we may have been able to dry some items but fire leaves you with nothing.

The problem now is finding a place to stay,” Anthony said.

He noted that the incident shook his mother so much that relatives rushed her to the Penal Health Centre to seek medical attention.

Again he praised residents for their efforts and said the family was very saddened to learn that the house was also damaged.

“There were no casualties.

Mom lost her sou-sou money in the fire too.