‘We have lost everything’ - Rum Lane fire leaves residents in pain

Asheika Townsend is slated to start The University of the West Indies this September where she will pursue a degree in journalism, but, hopefully, she will never have to write a story similar to what she is currently experiening. The 18-year-old Alpha Academy sixth former is among 34 persons left homeless after an early morning fire gutted their homes on Rum Lane in downtown Kingston yesterday.

"I have lost everything, not even a suit of clothes I have left. I have lost my birth certificate, laptop with my SBAs, CXC certificates and I need those to start UWI in September. I am suppose to return to school on June 8, but my uniforms were destroyed. We have nothing left," she said.

It's not clear how the fire, which began minutes to 6, started. Units from Rollington Town and the Trench Town sub-stations responded and put out the blaze but not before six houses were gutted.

Unfortunate ones

Standing in the midst of their burnt-out dwelling, the teenager hugs and comforts her mother, Venese Townsend.

"The most important thing is to get the house structure back up and after that we can start work on getting back our documents. Thankfully, we are not among the unfortunate ones who don't have anywhere to go tonight (last night) because we have family members living close by," Asheika says.

The image of victims either gazing into space or rummaged through the rubble was too painstaking for some bystanders who shook their heads in disbelief. Varal Williams and his son Fitzroy Seaton were among the unfortunate residents. They, too, have lost everything, including all the tools and furniture in Williams' workshop that he has been operating for the past 25 years.

"Is here so mi do mi work and live and every single ting gone. Mi honestly don't know how mi going to start back because things in there for people. Mi really don't know how the fire start because at about 6:30 mi leave the house and ride go inna town go look some food, and when mi come back the house on fire. When mi a come and see the crowd I thought it was an accident or something, but when mi realise what was happening, mi couldn't believe," he said.

"Right now I don't even know were I am going to sleep tonight. Mi a go through and try clean up but I don't even see one piece of material that can use to do anything," he said with a despondent look on his face.