Police are investigating whether two kerosene lamps were the cause of a house fire in Vistabella, San Fernando, on Wednesday night which left two families, including a baby, homeless. No one was injured.
The fire began around 8.45 pm upstairs the house at Hubert Rance Street.
A couple, their 18-month-old baby and an adult relative lived upstairs, while Cheryl Thomas-Aaron, 52, her husband Andre Aaron, 54, her 33-year-old son Richard and her brother Roger Thomas rented the downstairs apartment.
Speaking at the ruins yesterday, Thomas-Aaron, a delivery officer at TTPost, recalled that she was awoken by a heated argument between two people.
She said she went back to sleep but was again awoken by doors slamming.
“I don’t know how long after my son come knocking down my window. He say ‘Mammy come out, the house on fire.’ I tell him to move my car.”
She said she and her other family members ran out of the house.
“I saw the whole upstairs of the house in flames,” she added.
Thomas-Aaron said the upstairs tenants were already out of the house. She said she was able to salvage a few items but most of her belongings were destroyed.
Thomas-Aaron, who had lived there since she was four years old, said she had no idea how the fire started. Until she can find a home, she will be staying with her mother-in-law.
Police received information that there were two lit kerosene lamps upstairs the house and one may have fallen. The house is owned by Rasheed Edoo, 60.
The fire was put out by firefighters from the Mon Repos station.
Officers of Marabella Police visited the scene and Cpl Rosan is investigating.