Arson still suspected in Gaylord fire
The flames have long been extinguished, but the speculation continues to generate heat. As investigators await the results of tests a near disaster is coming under close scrutiny.
Jacqueline Woods
6 days after a fire destroyed Gaylord’s warehouse at #19 King Street, police and fire officials are still investigating to find out what started the blaze. Initial reports suggest that the fire may have been deliberately set. Fire Chief Henry Baizar says they have sworn statements from witnesses, who said they did informed the store owners that there was smoke coming from inside the building, but that the owners ignored the warning and still went ahead and locked up the store. In addition, Baizar says when firefighters arrived on the scene, even though the owners saw them trying to get inside the building, they were not offered the keys. Some samples where taken from the back of the store where the fire started and that evidence is at the forensics lab. But while the final report is not due until the end of the week, things do not look good for the storeowners or employees.
Marisa Quan, P.R, National Fire Service
“The investigation is not completed, but what we can say at this time is that the fire was not electrical because it started at the centre of the building amongst the clock, where there was nothing electrical around it. We are still trying to see what caused the fire and for that reason we are not releasing any information on the fire as yet. But as soon as we have something definite, I’ll get back with you.”
The store’s contents were insured with G.A Roe and Sons for half a million dollars. That company has brought in a special investigator to look into the incident, who will also be working closely with the Police Department. But as one fire investigation is underway, the Fire Department is looking into another incident that took place shortly after 10:00 on Monday night. Carmen Mendez was upstairs inside her house when she heard someone screaming, telling her to get out because there was smoke coming from her store below.
Carmen Mendez, Co-Owner, Albert Photo and Record Shop
“A guy that usually sit downstairs, Joseph, yelled Carmen, Carmen, come out smoke di come out the store. That’s when I got up because I was lying down in my room with my baby. So I come out and hollered for My children, but my daughter, she was like dead (asleep) in her room, and Willy come and banged on my door and all of us got out. I left the door opened, I don’t know how anybody got in here, but I just left. There was too much smoke and my baby is just a month old and started to cough and cough and we had to move.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You are saying that thank goodness the ceiling is cement.”
Carmen Mendez
“Yes, that’s why everybody is saved because upstairs right now, we were cleaning and it’s cracked. If the heat cracked that, what would it have done if it was board, we probably wouldn’t live.”
A number of items were destroyed by heat and water. Mendez says she does not know what may have caused the blaze but suspects it may have been something electrical.
Carmen Mendez
“Maybe electrical because you could see there that the whole stereo system is completely burnt out, just over those two areas there. The stereo and the CD player was there, and everything burnt out there, so I think it’s mostly electrical.”
The Albert Photo and Record Shop was insured with Victor L. Bryant for $60,000.
