Fire Service Has No Answers

Benisford Matura

So, what caused the fire that wiped out the Barracks and left more than fifty people without a roof over their heads?  There is plenty speculation as to what caused the fire, but today the National Fire Service says there are no answers; that it is likely that they may never know what caused the fire that burnt out the Majestic Alley homes.

Benisford Matura, Operations Officer, National Fire Services

“Both appliances were dispatched to the area. Upon arrival at number twenty-nine, a two storey-structure of wooden top and concrete on the first floor – the first floor was totally engulfed in fire – the wooden section. We got into operation and start to out the fire. Unfortunately, one of our main pumper experienced a mechanical problem and at that point we lost water pressure for a while. We eventually recovered and got back into operation and eventually out the fire.”

Andrea Polanco

“I know you explained you had a mechanical issue – is this just a matter of very old equipment that you have – that you are using?”

Benisford Matura

“Yes. Our equipment are aging and at some given point it will fail – it is just unfortunate that it failed at that point.”

Andrea Polanco

“Now, in terms of the cause of that fire, have you guys determined it?”

Benisford Matura

“We have determined that it started from there but in regards to what started it, it is very, vry difficult. As you can see there is nothing to probe nowhere because it is not even there anymore and whatever remains from upstairs is already mixed with the downstairs, so it is very difficult to determine what would have caused that fire.”

Andrea Polanco

“So, you can’t say next week, two weeks or a month from now – there is no way to tell what caused it?”

Benisford Matura

“No. Some fires, like this one, when it burns to that level, you really can’t say.”