Fire burns house and 59 year old woman lucky to be alive

At the break of dawn this morning, firemen rushed to Waight Street where a house was on fire. The house, occupied Anselda Dougal and her son erupted in flames. The origins of the fire are unknown but there is a belief that the fire is a case of arson.  Dougal had vivid recollections of how she narrowly escaped losing her life. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

The inside of a two storey house on Waight Street was burnt to a crisp during a fire that occurred early this morning. Sonia Williams was up from four a.m. suffering from allergies when she became aware of the flickering of flames across the street.

Sonia Williams, Neighbor of Fire Victims

“When I looked through the window, behind the house on that area, I saw smoke. I jump out of my bed and I open my door and I run straight downstairs and straight across to the house to try open the door to get the lady out.  The fire done bring the lady this side dah front weh I could see she. Then weh I put on my room light over this side yah weh I live, she done see I put on the light, so she done know somebody see ahn fi help ahn. So I run back across here but I couldn’t open the door.”

The front door of the burning house was locked and fifty nine years old Anselda Dougal was not aware of the locked verandah door.

anselda dougal

Anselda Dougal, Fire Victim

“I got up around five o’clock and I heard something go pop. I listened and then I neva heard anything else. All of a sudden I start to hear again [making popping sounds]. I jump and I look towards room door because the bed is very near to the room door. I saw the fire. I didn’t have any time to remember I didn’t have on slippers or anything. I just through the door and when I get through the door, I realize the fire was right on me. I didn’t have time for panic or anything just that I had to save  myself. So I walked through it and I got my head scorched. Mi daughter comb it out for me noh. Then when I went to the verandah, they locked me inside the place. So I climbed up on the…we have a shelving there where we used to have plants. I climbed up on that and I heard the neighbor hollering for mi son, Andrew.”

Sonia Williams

sonia williams

“While she try climb up deh, the try lift ih skirt to climb down. I run cross back and I wake ih son. I beat up the house because da pan di flooring upstairs, I have to knock pan the flooring for them to wake downstairs. And he fly outside and he come and she mi di try jump and he tell ahn jump ma jump. And she jump and he ketch ih ma. And I glad he save ih life because I di watch the lady like she mi wah bun up. And nobody else neva deh around fi help. So I glad, [laughs].”

Anselda Dougal

“He tell mi mommy jump and he caught me partially. I fell to the ground and part ah mi body he caught. And that was it. I lost everything. I didn’t have time to bring out anything or to worry about anything other than to save myself since the fire was right on me. That’s all I have to say.”

Jose Sanchez

“So you lost everything?”

Anselda Dougal

“Yes I lost mi clothing, household effects, everything.”

Jose Sanchez

“But now at least you are now with family right?”

Anselda Dougal

“Well this is mi daughter and mi son home. They came in the car and they got me.  So I’m here with them for now.”

But what could have caused the fire?

Jose Sanchez

“You know if they had any candles burning, or if any cause?”

Sonia Williams

“No current, no candle, no gas, nothing. I feel like dah somebody set the fire. Dah arson, somebody set it because dah one lady mi deh deh.”

Jose Sanchez

“I don’t know if anyone would have anything against her or her son.”

Sonia Williams

“I don’t know, I couldn’t tell you. But she definitely and he, they have nothing to cause fire over there.”

Anselda Dougal

“I didn’t have candle. We get electricity from the neighbor and I don’t sleep with the light on. So the current wasn’t working or I have gas or nothing; no candle, no nothing.”

Nothing is left but charred remains of the home which was not insured.  But even in the charred remains, there is opportunity. One man rolled up and collected copper wires, from which he would receive cash since copper is a hot commodity.  Nonetheless no life was lost.  Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

If anyone would like to help the victims get back on their feet. They can be reached at 663-8685.