A section of the Crane Resorts, the island’s largest quarantine hotel, caught fire this evening sending smoke billowing into the air and leaving nearby residents fearful for their homes and belongings.
No one was hurt in the fire which apparently broke out in the laundry and storeroom, sending thick billows of black smoke that could be seen across St Philip and some parts of Christ Church.
While residents rushed to remove their possessions from their homes, none was significantly damaged by the fire.
Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard said five fire tenders and 24 fire officers led by Deputy Chief Fire Officer Henderson Patrick responded to the blaze which was reported at 6:02 p.m.
Police also rushed to the scene and were seen ensuring that bystanders practised physical distancing despite the panic.
Maynard said the fire at the St Philip hotel posed no immediate danger to residents and had been contained.
“At present, the fire is contained and under control. It is not spreading to any other property and is contained at this point,” Chief Maynard told reporters.
“We had reports that it involved chemicals but further investigations revealed that the chemicals were in an adjacent building and were not actually involved.”
He said fire officers would monitor the fire for the “next couple hours”.
“It’s a large storeroom. It means that there are all sorts of things in there that we don’t even know what is in there; clothing, textiles, all sorts of things, and therefore, that will take a long time to cool down,” Chief Maynard said, while noting that there was usually an increase in fires during a lockdown.
Four neighbouring families were displaced by the fire and owner of the Crane Resorts, Paul Doyle, said they would be accommodated at the hotel.
“We invited some to come stay here so we’ll look after who we can,” he said.
None of the 160 guests at the hotel at the time of the fire was in danger, he added.
Doyle told reporters he saw the smoke from his home nearby.
“No one is hurt, that’s the main thing,” he said.
“It seems like things are under control [and] they’re protecting what they can. It’s old buildings that have been the problem.
“It’s a nursery and some of our storerooms and that’s what they’re basically trying to protect right now.
“We’re just thankful that the fire people are here doing their jobs and everybody chipped in to help and protect things so I think we’re all good.”
Doyle said he would not be able to give an estimate of the damage just yet.
For resident Trevor Haynes, the fire served as a reminder of one of his worst nightmares.
On February 18, 2019, both he and his brother next door lost their homes to fire.
“I was on my way home and I saw the smoke. I was wondering if it was my house but then I realized that the fire was further away from my house. It kind of gave me a little fright and stuff because the 18th of the month will be two years that my house burned…I was frightened because I couldn’t believe that after I got so far that I going back down instead of going up, so it had me a little worried,” said Haynes, who lives with wife and three children.
“Nothing ain’t really damage because the house ain’t damage. We were just scared so we brought out a lot of stuff.”
Haynes, an employee at the Transport Board for the past 15 years, said he would be sleeping at another residence tonight. (randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)
