The Tribune

A HUGE fire ripped through the Haitian Village community off Joe Farrington Road last night, prompting a major response from emergency services.

As The Tribune was going to press last night, fire chief Walter Evans was able to confirm that 40-50 homes had been destroyed in the blaze, with an estimate of 150 people displaced as a result.

There was no word of how many people had been hurt in the blaze, and no indication as to what may have started the fire.

Police confirmed that the event was being treated as a major incident, and that NEMA may be activated to deal with the outcome of the disaster.

Early indications had been that the whole of the compound was going to be destroyed in the blaze, and firefighters worked hard to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.

Heavy rain was said to have hardly helped at all in the fight against the fire, but shortly after midnight fire crews were getting control of the blaze and containing it to the area already affected.

Residents were out on the streets around the area of the blaze, with witnesses saying that many were in tears as the fire ripped through the houses.

One young Haitian man at the scene said that the fire had burned up all of his identification documents.

Emergency services said that more information - including what arrangements would be made to provide shelter by those displaced in the fire - would be made available this morning.

For more details, see www.tribune242.com.