Grocery Shop Consumed by Fire

A small wooden structure went up in flames at about two o’clock this morning.  Thirty-nine year old Darrel McClaren was asleep when he heard the crackling sounds of the fire devouring the wooden building that houses his small business adjacent to his home. Despite best efforts from the community, the small grocery shop was completely destroyed. The Fire Department believes the blaze was caused by illegal electrical connection. Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Just before two this morning, a fire gutted a shop at the corner of M and Y Street and La Croix Extension. The twelve by twelve wooden structure was the property of Darrel McLaren, who was sleeping inside his house located adjacent to the shop. His sister alerted him about the blaze which started at the front of the shop. McLaren believes that it was deliberate.

Darrel McLaren, Shop Owner

Darrel McLaren

“I get up to wah lee crackling sound, I hear like thing di roast up and thing. So when I get up and thing, I look out outside and same time I hear my sister di holler for me…saying the shop was on fire. 03 The fire look like it start from the front of the shop like somebody through something front ah it and just light it. that’s how it seems to me noh. That’s how it seems to me.”

With the assistance of neighbors, a bucket brigade attempted to out the blaze before firefighters arrived, but to no avail.

Darrel McLaren

“Me and a couple of mi neighbors them get some bucket and we start to throw water on it. The fire engine dehn show up and we call them, but when dehn come one of the trucks neva had no water. So the next one mi have water so they gang up with we and we quickly put it under control. But I lost all mi contents and thing. Everything weh mi dehn ina di shop get destroyed; the refridge, everything, you know. a lee one and two grocery items weh I mi have because I sell mi lee soft drink and whatnot.”

Duane Moody

“What do you think is the estimated loss that you sustained?”

Darrel McLaren

“With the shop and all the contents in there, I woulda say about five thousand dollars.”

Firefighters responded shortly after receiving the call and got into operation to out the blaze. According to Station Manager of the National Fire Service, Orin Smith, the investigation is indicating that the fire may have been caused by an illegal electrical line to the shop.

Orin Smith, Station Manager, Nat’l Fire Service

Orin Smith

“The fire originated on the south-west section of the building. The cause of the fire still under investigation.”

Duane Moody

“It had electricity? I know the owner was saying that he just woke up to find that the place was on fire.”

Orin Smith

“The structure itself had no electricity. It was being fed by a structure in the rear, from the south side of that structure. The area the fire developed is the same area that the drop was coming from. Further investigation continues into that.”

Duane Moody

“Does it look like that is what has happened again? An unattended line, drop, catching fire?”

Orin Smith

“Based on the outcome of the investigation, that is what it is leading into. It is a common practice. I know it is illegal. It is unfortunate that it is what is happening and we would caution these individuals that when the structure is not in use, disconnect the feed to avoid potential catastrophes such as these.”

Anyone who can assist the family is asked contact McLaren at 660-2244. Duane Moody for News Five.