Nothing of value destroyed in sorting office fire

Lincoln Allen, postmaster general, Post and Telecommunications Department (Jamaica Post), says that yesterday's fire at the facility "did not impact any current mail items".

He said that based on information received from the staff and Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) personnel, the fire originated at the rear exterior of the facility.

"The fire escalated but was quickly confined to one section of the building, a storeroom, and did not spread. The affected area housed old documents, usually earmarked for disposal," he said. Allen also said that the source of the fire is still being investigated and an estimate of the damages has not yet been ascertained as a full assessment is still being carried out.

Operations at the facility were suspended for the day and members of staff and other persons occupying the building were evacuated. Several individuals were taken to hospital for complications related to smoke inhalation. Deputy Postmaster General, Carey Brown, said staff tried to extinguish the fire while the JFB was on the way.

"The quick action of staff prevented it from escalating and the JFB was timely on the scene, and that made a big difference," he said, noting that the fire was contained to the one room.

Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for skills and digital transformation, who visited the scene, told JIS News that there was no damage to the NIDS Card Centre which is housed at the facility and the CSO's general areas.

"The postmaster general told me that the team will be rearing to go... tomorrow (today)... and it will be business as usual as much as possible," she said.