The Tribune

By MORGAN ADDERLEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

FIREFIGHTERS battled a “ferocious” blaze at Paradise Fisheries on Saturday night, Fire Services Director Chief Superintendent Walter Evans told The Tribune yesterday.

CSP Evans confirmed the company’s warehouse was destroyed, but firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to the retail side of the property. It took responders three hours to bring the fire under control.

Residents in the surrounding area were temporarily evacuated from their homes and Mount Royal Avenue, where Paradise Fisheries is located, was temporarily closed.

CSP Evans said a police investigation is ongoing and officials cannot yet say what caused the blaze. However, he confirmed no one was injured.

“Police on the island of New Providence are investigating a fire which destroyed the warehouse portion of a business establishment, Saturday, January 12,” police said yesterday.

“According to reports, shortly after 8pm, Fire Services officers responded to reports of a fire at Paradise Fisheries Ltd, located Mt Royal Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered that the entire warehouse was engulfed in flames.

“Officers were able to contain and extinguished the fire, which has destroyed the warehouse. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire and no injuries were reported. Investigations are ongoing.”

CSP Evans clarified to The Tribune that initially two fire trucks responded, where they met “heavy flames” coming from the metal warehouse’s roof. He estimated the warehouse to be 15,000 square feet.

“All of the units were called,” CSP Evans continued. “We made an initial attack and we were able to battle that blaze for three hours before bringing it under control. That building, as is the custom with structures like that, (there’s) very little windows — (but) with that building there were no windows. There were just several doors by which one had to make their way.

“That fire was (a) very ferocious fire, and we had extensive heat. We had super-heated conditions in that fire. The fire was moving towards the west and we were able to prevent the spread . . .from coming into contact with Paradise Fisheries, the retail section.”

However, the warehouse was ultimately destroyed, CSP Evans said.

“We also had to call for an immediate evacuation (for all) residents who reside within 200 feet of Paradise Fisheries. They were temporarily evacuated from their homes… BPL (Bahamas Power and Light) were called in also to disconnect the power supply in that general vicinity.

“There was (also) the temporary road closure of Mount Royal Avenue, and that’s between two grids, for just operational purposes.”

CSP Evans could not give specifics as to what was stored in the warehouse, other than “a number of canister bottles of Freon,” among other various items.

“At this point the investigations are ongoing. Investigators are out there now. We are not in the position to say what was the cause of this blaze,” he said.

The Fire Services director also confirmed there was a fire in Exuma on Friday, but could not provide details up to press time, saying investigators are looking into the matter.