The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A FIRE yesterday damaged a family’s home off West Bay Street, destroying one room and causing smoke damage throughout the residence.

The blaze occurred nearly two years after an earlier fire, which was allegedly set intentionally by an outsider.

Lincoln Gay, who lives in the house with his two adult children, said he was at work when he received a call around noon about the fire. His 22-year-old daughter was home then and noticed smoke coming from the fridge.

Mr Gay, 44, said his daughter attempted to put out the fire with water but quickly realised it was too much to handle. He said due to her asthma, she was unable to stay inside and ran out to call the fire department.

Firefighters treated her with oxygen in an ambulance before she was released.

Mr Gay’s father, who is blind and lives in the front section of the home, was safely evacuated as a precaution due to a nearby gas tank.

Mr Gay said the fire destroyed the room where his children slept, along with most of their clothes, a TV, two bureaus, a fridge, a stove, bathroom fittings, an AC unit, and three car amplifiers. He said his children would stay in his room until their space could be repaired.

Mr Gay, who has lived in the residence on and off for 30 years, said the property previously operated as a motel called the Arawak Inn. The structure remains standing, though parts of the roof are charred, and one room appears significantly damaged.

“We gonna have to rebuild it back; you know, in time, piece by piece,” he said.