Large fire guts Family Court building

A large fire gutted the Family Court Attendance Centre located at 79 Duke Street in Kingston yesterday afternoon.

Fire personnel who worked feverishly to extinguish the large inferno, also managed to rescue two persons.

Scores of onlookers gathered at the scene hoping that the fire crew could save the property, which houses the coroner's court and a school.

Reports are that smoke was seen coming from the building about 4:40 p.m., and the police and the fire brigade were

summoned.

When THE weekend STAR arrived on the scene at 4:50 p.m., all three floors were under fire. A fire unit and a crew of firefighters were attending to the blaze.

About 5 p.m, three other fire units arrived and provided

assistance.

Fire personnel rescued two men who were trapped on the third floor of the building with the use of a ladder.

This evoked thunderous applause from the large gathering on hand watching the

proceedings.

THE weekend STAR managed to speak to the seemingly shaken men who were rescued, one of whom said, "We are OK now. We were the only two inside."

The fire also affected residents on Mark Lane, as the wind blew thick dark smoke, old zinc and other debris in their direction.

The source of the fire was not immediately identified, and our news team could not confirm if the building was insured.

The York Park Fire Station is investigating.