Anger fueled the blaze that left ten homeless

A family of ten is tonight homeless after one of its own set their home on fire. The blaze started shortly after eleven this morning at ninety-two Antelope Street Extension and shortly after one person was arrested for arson. By the time News Five arrived on the scene; firefighters had already contained the fire, but there was still confusion in its aftermath. Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting
Stunned family members stood around what was left of the wooden structure in disbelief. According to witnesses, tension was building among family members and when fury was added to fire, the house went up in flames all because of a petty misunderstanding. Resident and owner, Antonio Reyes, claims his fourteen year old nephew, Bobby Reyes, burned down the house. .

Antonio Reyes, Resident
“I try fi my home and thing but I feel so bad because my own nephew try threaten me inna life dat—I know dat I neva mi wah live inna nothing because just last night I tell ah dat ih have to go to ih parents and ih neva want go to ih parents because ih seh h gwein pan ih own like wah man and ih pick up himself and ih gone pan ih own. I talk to ah and I tell ah dat mek ih wait till ih ma come and we wah give ah to ih ma hand. He pick up ihself, ih two bag the night and he gone inna di night. And I know dat he mi got wah lee problem between me and my gial dats why I tell Bobby wait till ih ma come mek ih ker ah. I neva know dat dehn mi wah come and burn down dis house like dat because I done si di lee bwai, di lee bwai done idle. Di lee bwai no mind fi burn down anything and mek we stay without nothing because I know dah Bobby burn it down. I know dah my nephew.”

But Bobby was no where to be found. And according to Sarita Reyes, her sister-in-law, Shevanney Tasher came to the entrance of her room, poured some liquid that smelled like kerosene in a pan and threw it at her. Tasher then lit the place on fire. Antonio says that this event did not need to happen and it has caused him to lose everything.

Antonio Reyes
“I lose all my TV, I lose my bed, I lose my clothes, I lose everything.”

Duane Moody
“I understand dah mi more dan one family mi live inna dis house. Elaborate please.”

Antonio Reyes
“I feel sad because I can’t stand it. I noh gat no home, I lost all my things dehn weh important; my papers lost in deh weh important.”

Duane Moody
“So wat you wah do now?”

Antonio Reyes
“He bruk up my house, ih bruk inna my house, thief my things dehn and my ma can’t si and I noh gat no help. I just di try start to do wah lee job. I feel sad because I noh got no way fi get wah lee hand and nothing, no help from no way. I noh got nothing, my clothes burn up. I no got no clothes.”

Reyes salvaged nothing, but thanks to the rapid response by firefighters, the fire was out and controlled. Station Supervisor, Kenneth Mortis says the fire originated from the room.

Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor, Fire Department
“The fire started from the southwestern portion of the building where one of the bedrooms was located. At present the exact cause of the fire is yet to be finalized even though we have a small clue as to how it started.”

Duane Moody
“Apparently it was lighter fuel—lighter fuel or kerosene that was used. Could you expound on that.”

Kenneth Mortis
“As mentioned, yes, your guess is as good as mine. We have been told that is kerosene. The police are doing their initial investigations to conclude whether it was kerosene or not.”

Duane Moody reporting for News Five.

The house was partially destroyed and everything inside was completely burnt. While in Police custody, Tasher admitted setting their house on fire and she was arrested and charged with Arson.