The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE allegations that arson was to blame for the deaths of six relatives in a house fire, authorities are almost certain that the blaze resulted from an electrical shortage, The Tribune understands.

As of yesterday, a police source said, an ongoing investigation into Monday’s Homestead Avenue incident has revealed that the fire began at the front of the four-room structure where an extension cord had electrical problems.

The cord, it is claimed, was connected to a power outlet at another building where a fire simultaneously began shortly after fire crews responded to the scene.

Police do not believe that the house, which was completely destroyed by the fire, was connected to BEC’s grid, the source explained.

According to RBPF insiders, investigators believe that when the victims realised that a fire had broken out, the blaze was already too intense to make an escape through the home’s main entrance.

They then attempted to escape flames and smoke through the back door of the structure, but that effort was made impossible because a fridge was blocking the exit. In a last ditch effort, all of the victims piled into the bathroom where they again tried to get out through a window, but burglar bars prevented them.

Although investigations will not be completed until sometime today, Fire Services Branch Chief Walter Evans said he would only be able to speak about the fire when officials had completed their work.

Mr Evans said: “The police are doing their investigations and it’s near completion. People are saying all sorts of things, resorting to all kinds of theories, but I think it will be best for everyone to wait for the results of the investigation.

“We always look at things from a scientific perspective and everything has to be done methodically. As soon as that is done we’ll speak more to the public.”

Eyewitnesses said screams and cries for help were heard from the victims as the intensity of the fire grew.

At one point before fire trucks arrived, an onlooker tried to save the family, but was unable to get through the burglar bars, a neighbour confirmed.

Fire crews responded within six minutes of receiving the call that there was a fire, Mr Evans told The Tribune on Monday.

So far 52-year-old Marilyn Barrett, 23-year-old Unissa Pratt and 2-year-old Joashinique King, all of Homestead Street have been positively identified.

The other three are believed to be Jennifer Bisphaint, 22, mother of the two-year-old, Melchizedek Bain, 15, and Trayvon Grant, 16.