St Michael family homeless after Goodland blaze guts home

A St Michael family has been left homeless after a fire gutted their rented wooden home at Goodland on Saturday evening.

Divisional Officer Tremelle Perch, who heads the Barbados Fire Service’s Central Division, said firefighters received the emergency call at 5:59 p.m.

Two water tenders, one from the Bridgetown Fire Station and the other from the Bridgetown Port Station, along with approximately ten firefighters, responded.

Divisional Officer Tremelle Perch

“When we arrived, one wooden structure was on fire. The guys did an excellent job containing the blaze to that one house,” Perch said.

Homeowner Erleen Gilkes-Beckles, who was attending a conference at the time, said she received several calls informing her that the house was in flames.

“I don’t even know what to tell you. I just give God all the glory that nobody was hurt. This is all material stuff. We can go from here,” she said, fighting back emotion. The house was insured.

Gilkes-Beckles added that the cause of the fire was still unknown and she was leaving the matter in the hands of God and the fire department.

The house had been home to a mother and her two adult daughters for the past three years. The tenants were reportedly too shaken to speak at the time.

People look on as firefighters battle the blaze.

Next-door neighbour Rhonalda Nurse said she, her fiancé, and her father were at home when they heard someone shouting.

“We came outside and saw the house on fire. We were scared it would spread to ours, so my fiancé and brother went on the roof with a hose to try and protect it. Thankfully, the breeze wasn’t blowing in our direction,” she recalled.

Fire officials are continuing their investigations. (SM)