‘There was no tiefing light’ - Fire victim refutes rumours that bad wiring caused blaze

Trecia Ellis, one of the victims of Tuesday morning's fire on Seventh Street in Greenwich Farm, in Kingston, is refuting claims by the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) that the blaze, which resulted in injuries to six firefighters, was caused by an illegal connection.

"There was no tiefing light involved because I pay my bill every month ... I have all of my light bills to show for that," said Ellis, who said it was unfortunate that the firefighters got injured.

"They worked really hard to out the fire, but it didn't have anything to do with illegal current. The power company was supposed to come to turn off the light, but they came after the men had started outing the fire. I see it posted all over the media that is tiefing light cause fire but that was not the case," said Ellis.

In the aftermath of the fire, which resulted in the hospitalisation of three of the six firefighters, who are from the Trench Town Fire Station, JFB Commissioner Stewart Beckford, reportedly stated that "the incident arose as a result of illegal electrical connection". Ellis said that when one of the firemen was electrocuted, they asked him if he was OK.

"And even though we tell him to come go doctor, he was still there trying to out the fire. Then next thing the electricity hold down another fireman and when his colleague tried to help, he began to get shock to. When mi hear him in there a bawl it pain mi heart because all they were trying to do was help," Ellis said.

"From the first man get injured me start tell them to leave the fire alone because the things dem already burn up. One of them who get shock tell mi say a him work, but mi tell him not to put him life in any danger. The fireman really did try but the house still burn," Ellis added.

Ellis, who was not at home when the fire started, said she got a frantic call from her daughter Sherika, who told her the house was on fire.

"When mi see she a call dem time deh, mi jump off the bed and grab up the phone and she say, 'Mommy, the whole a over your side burn down'," recalled Ellis. Sherika, who lived in a different house in the same yard, said she was awakened by shouts of 'help' from the couple who lived in the same house as her mother.

"Mi peep through the window and see the man a throw water so mi wake up mi spouse. The fire never start reach over mi mother yet and mi call fire brigade and dem come really quick. By this time the fire start to move fast and already spread," said Sherika.

Ellis said by the time she reached home, her two bedrooms and living room were already engulfed in flames. Except for her stove and a few clothing items, everything else was destroyed. Despite the losses she suffered, Ellis was seemingly in a good mood yesterday when THE STAR visited what was left of her home. As she searched through the rubble of what was her home since 2006, she was cracking jokes with her family and neighbours, who were assisting.

"I had a bed that didn't even come out of plastic. I had a huge TV and the fire took it.... but God never disappoint his people so I will not worry. Mi almost did believe say mi broke but then mi find the $20 coins that I was saving. When mi all look on the wall where the TV was, all I see is the wall mount. But a just life ya man," she said with rueful smile.