Couple lose second home to fire

As they searched through the rubble to what was their two-bedroom dwelling yesterday, Nordo and Donnette Dalhouse appeared broken and despondent.

History had repeated itself in the most awful way after fire gutted their section of a house that they had rented on Bay Farm Road in St Andrew. Similar to their first fire experience almost 16 years ago, the Dalhouses lost everything.

"We have been living at this premises since last August. I had just reached work when I got the call that the house was on fire. Because of the first fire, I had this fear so I usually plug out everything [including] the Internet. This morning (yesterday) even though I knew I had plugged out everything, I still went back and check. Nothing was left on so I don't know what could have happened, but we lost every single thing. Everyone is in shock," Donnette said.

"I am not even sure how I am feeling to be honest as I am a little bit numb. I am wondering what is next and night is coming down and I am wondering where we are going to sleep. I am worried about my children and how they are going to take it," she added.

When THE STAR visited the location, firefighters from the Half-Way Tree station were carrying out cooling-down operations. A senior fireman told the news team that they were still trying to determine the cause of the blaze. The other section of the house which consisted of two bedrooms was partially damaged.

Nordo said he too was at work when he received a call about 8 a.m. that his house was on fire. He said he rushed home hoping that he could have saved portions of their belonging but he was too late.

"We lost everything and I just don't know where or how to start, but the most important thing is that no lives were lost. We have two children and to know that they leave for school and when they come home they won't have a house, is hard. I don't know what could have caused this because I am sure that nothing was plugged in," he said.

He said he has estimated their loss to be more than $1,000,000.