The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FIREFIGHTERS believe a 10-year-old boy started a blaze early yesterday morning that left his family homeless and under investigation by the Department of Social Services.

Fire Chief, Walter Evans said firefighters received the call around 9am that a building on Fritz Lane was smoking and was believed to be on fire.

“We responded and met a single-storey wooden structure completely engulfed in flames,” he said. “Two units responded initially, but a third unit was called to prevent the fire from spreading to other structures.

“The fire was extinguished, but the home was completely destroyed.”

Mr Evans said they are investigating the possibility that the fire was started by children, who they understand, were left home alone.

Kenwood Saunders, one of the residents of the home, said his girlfriend’s children, who are eight and ten, were left at home while he went to work. However, he said, there is usually someone who watches them until 3pm when he gets off.

“One of the neighbours picks me up from work and then the fireman told me the little boy was playing with the matches and he said it got hot so he drop it and walk out the house.

“That’s my stepson.

“They say he just gone about his business and left the house.”

Monique McKenzie, a social worker, said the department of Social Services is investigating why at that “tender age” the children were left at home alone.

She said: “We now have to find proper care and protection for them because it is against the law for children to be left home alone at that age.”

No one was hurt in the blaze and investigations continue.