Suspected arson leaves five homeless in St Philip blaze

Five people have been left homeless after a fire destroyed one house and extensively damaged another in Chapel No.2, St Philip on Wednesday. Foul play is strongly suspected in the incident, which gutted two uninsured timber houses.

The fire service responded to the scene after receiving a call at 5:10 p.m. Ten firefighters, led by Divisional Officer Patrick Edwards, arrived in two fire engines from the St John and Worthing stations.

Adrian Bayne, whose house was destroyed in the blaze, was visibly distraught at the scene. The 50-year-old landscaper told Barbados TODAY: “I was here when it burned . . . I had now come from Chefette, Six Roads . . . Everything I worked for is gone. I had real things in there. My clothes, my tools, the weed whacker, the things I work with, my grill, my stove, my tablet, a Bluetooth speaker, everything is gone.”

Bayne, who lived in the house with his partner, claimed to have witnessed the start of the fire. “I saw him get a lighter, newspaper and throw it through the below window,” he said, though he did not specify who “him” referred to.

The damaged house next door was occupied by Bayne’s mother, brother, and nephew. Bayne expressed uncertainty about his future living arrangements but said he would temporarily stay with another brother who lives nearby.

During the interview, Bayne collapsed. A first responder stated his condition was not life-threatening, attributing it to shock from the incident.

The scene drew numerous onlookers, as police officers, members of the District Emergency Organisation, and the Red Cross Society responded to the incident. Kay McConney, MP for the area, was on the scene.

Police and fire officials have not yet released a formal statement regarding the cause of the fire or any suspects. 

(SZB)

Divisional officer Patrick Edwards