Woman loses second house to fire in one year

Approximately one year has passed since the raging fire that left Sashana Goode, a 35-year-old resident of Swettenham Road in Whitfield Town, St Andrew, grappling with a devastating aftermath.

Not only did the fire consume her home, it led to the hospitalisation of her son and spouse. Goode made attempts to pick up the pieces. Last Thursday, she found herself facing the arduous challenge of once again rebuilding her life from scratch, as another blaze took her new dwelling.

"The last time it happened, I wasn't home, but my babyfather did get badly burned," she said. "Every time mi think 'bout it, mi haffi seh mi nuh know if a salt mi salt or a destruction a tek me. Mi nuh do nothing; but year pon top a year? Mi haffi question it."

Superintendent Valerie Dixon, the operations officer at the Jamaica Fire Brigade for Kingston and St Andrew, said that the distress call was received at 5:50 p.m. The response team promptly deployed units from Half-Way Tree, Trench Town, and York Park to address the escalating fire.

"At the time of the report, a total of 16 individuals were left homeless, comprising seven adults and nine children," disclosed Dixon. The devastation wrought by the fire included the complete destruction of a six-bedroom dwelling and partial damage to a one-bedroom structure. Dixon added that the cause of the fire was undetermined at the time.

One teen who tried to out the blaze expressed gratitude that no one was hurt.

"An elderly man was inside the house, he couldn't walk, so they had to carry him out of bed and bring him to safety," he said. "We couldn't save nothing because a di breeze. The breeze did a blow hard and the smoke did black, so we could a barely see."

He shared that by the time the firemen arrived, three houses were fully engulfed in flames, but their prompt response spared two houses from damage. Now facing hardship again, Goode is reaching out for assistance.

"Whatever help we can get, we'll take it. I want to rebuild the one room that burned down the first time because the owners have passed away," Goode pleaded, emphasising the emotional toll on her family and the urgency of the needed support.

Goode is not the only person in need. Aaliyah Butler, accompanied by her toddler daughter, shared her experience of being displaced.

"Me a stay 'round di road wid mi boyfriend. Mi neva get fi save nothing 'cause mi did deh a work [when the fire started]," she said. The estimated financial loss from the fire stands at $10 million, according to the official report.

Persons wishing to assist Sashana Goode may contact her at 876-343-6789.