A group of children ran out of a fisheries building in Barrouallie on Sunday afternoon just as thick smoke was seen billowing from it and the fire alarm was raised.
The building, located on the seafront in Bottle and Glass, a fishing and whaling community, was being prepared for use in the processing of “black fish” (short-finned pilot whales) while the government constructs a new processing plant in the Central Leeward town.
It is not clear at what time the fire started, but iWitness News was first informed about it at 1:38 p.m.
In addition to the contents of the building, the whalers’ plans to move into their temporary home next January went up in smoke.
Nonetheless, residents of the town were pleased that the fire was quickly contained, especially as it occurred next to the gas station operated by the Barrouallie Fisheries Development Co-operative Society Ltd.
One person familiar with the operations at the building gutted by fire spoke to iWitness News, but requested anonymity.
The person said that they were in the vicinity when another person shouted, “Fire! Fire!” just as a group of children ran out of the compound. At that time, the fire had reached the roof of the building.
The person said they recognised two of the children and believes they know how the fire started.
This information, however, was not communicated to police at the time of the interview Sunday afternoon.
Asked whether they would tell the police what they had seen, the person said, “maybe; maybe not”.
The source complained that the building was constantly being burglarised although it was being prepared for the whaling operation.
“The children and adults are burglarising it and going in there. If you put on a lock, they take it off. You replace it and they take it off again.
“They need to keep their children out of the compound. This is a business. This is a gas station; no children are supposed to be in here and running up and down. They don’t control their children,” the source told iWitness News.
At the time of the fire, the building contained a freezer, some boxes and cans for storing oil. It had no electricity connection.
A “crazy” man always breaks into the building and sleeps inside of it, the source told iWitness News.
A few villagers and off-duty police officers helped to put out the fire and by the time a fire truck arrived from Kingstown, located 10.7 miles away, the fire had been extinguished.
1. People who came out, few were wearing masks.
2. There needs to be a fire tender, at least a small one, and hydrants located in these communities. What would have happened it the fire had spread to the fuel.
The coast guard boat is not equipped with fire hose to put out fires?
Happy no-one was hurt in the fire. I hope the Barrouallie Fisheries Development Co-operative Society Ltd had insured the building otherwise it’s more money gone up in smoke. Also Eye Witness News is wrong to suggest that children started the fire. These things are supposed to be investigated by officials. Firefighters have to come from Kingstown for a fire in Barrouallie And allyo want tell me that ULP is doing a good job? The incident seemed like entertainment for onlookers just like Covid19, Volcano, Hurricanes and Bad Government, God help us please.
Is the government really in the process of constructing a facility for whaling in Barrouallie? They have been saying so for years and except for the vacant land there is no signs of construction. Of course the real matter is why does a densely populated town like barrouallie have no fire tender. By the time the fire tender gets there from Kingstown the damage is done. By the way where are the fire hydrants in this country.
They are destroying what is very useful to to them what a shame