Two fires destroy businesses in Sando

LOUD EXPLOSIONS echoed through San Fernando yesterday morning after fire gutted seven businessplaces, leaving 30 persons jobless and incurring more than $4 million in damages. Completely destroyed were “Totally Fresh,” also known as “Mattresses,” a clothing and shoe store located off High Street and a two-storey complex at Chancery Lane, which housed six businessplaces, including a lawyers’ chambers and a medical lab. Shortly after 11 pm on Friday, while fire officers from the Mon Repos Fire Station and a substation at Kings Wharf were attempting to extinguish the fire at Chancery Lane, they received a second report of fire. Police suspect arson in the clothing store fire since they discovered a large hole at the back of the building, and one of the locks was cut.

However, an electrical fault is believed to have caused the blaze at the two storey business complex which housed Callender’s Cake Decorating Supplies, Lab Medical Service, an X-ray clinic, the offices of Dr Ada Date Camps and Dr Ingrid Poon-King and Equity Chambers, occupied by attorneys Carlton V Alery, B E Commissiong, Stanley Marcus, Leonard Birmingham and Alfred Pierre. Divisional Fire Officer Curwin Callender said upon receiving the second report they called for back-up from the Siparia and Princes Town fire stations. However, according to sources, low water pressure and a lack of equipment made it difficult for the officers to contain the blaze which destroyed the  businesses. They were able to prevent the blaze at the clothing store from spreading to the nearby RIK Book Store. But yesterday businessman Dennis Matas, owner of Totally Fresh said he believed the fire fighters could have saved his business.

Matas said he received a call that the alarm in the building had gone off and that smoke was seen coming from inside. “I opened it and went upstairs. There was a small fire inside which we out with water. But there was plenty smoke,” he said. Matas said when the fire services arrived they took at least 25 minutes to reverse the truck down the street. He said he told the fire fighters that the windows were secured with pieces of board and to get the water inside they would have to break the windows. “But they said they had the fire contained and about an hour and a half after the whole thing went up in flames,” Matas complained. He estimated his losses to be close to $3 million. Matas said, “My business was not insured. I have lost everything.” San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherly and San Fernando West MP Diane Seukeran, who visited the fire scenes yesterday, expressed concern about the low water pressure in the city.