The Tribune

By ANNELIA NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

A FIRE tore through the Kemp Road Service Gas Station early Monday morning to leave one of the area’s most recognisable businesses heavily damaged, and residents and officials rallying around the family who have owned and operated it for decades.

Lincoln Deal, newly-elected MP for Free Town, shared news of the blaze in a social media post, calling it an “unfortunate fire” and extending prayers to those affected. “Early this morning, our community experienced an unfortunate fire at the Kemp Road Service Gas Station,” he wrote. “My thoughts and prayers are with the owners, employees, nearby residents and everyone impacted by this incident.”

Mr Deal said he first learned of the fire from a constituent living nearby. “At this moment, we don’t know how the fire started,” he said. “I believe that the police are still investigating that aspect. But I do know it started around 3am. One of my constituents that live in the area actually sent me a message and mentioned that the gas station was on fire.”

Mr Deal publicly thanked firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel for their response efforts, and encouraged residents to avoid the area as emergency teams work. The station’s owner, Cecelia Knowles-Rahming, said the extent of the damage appears devastating.

“It started early this morning, and there has to be an investigation to let me know how it got started,” Ms Knowles-Rahming said. When asked about the level of destruction, she added: “Well, I can say it’s total, because of all the water.”

She said from what she could see nearly everything had been damaged. Ms Knowles-Rahming was unable to provide an estimate of financial losses.

“To tell you the truth, right now I don’t even want to think about it,” she said. “I just want to try to relax my mind, and maybe later think about it and try to figure things out.” She said her immediate focus is accessing and assessing the property once authorities determine it is safe.

“The first thing to do is to try to get it cleaned up,” Ms Knowles-Rahming said. “Actually, to see. The first thing to do, really, is to try to get in there. I was told not to go in because of all the water and oils, and the mixture of stuff that was in the building.”Only after a personal assessment, she said, will decisions about rebuilding be made.

Mr Deal described the gas station as “a landmark and a long-standing pillar in the community for over 50 years”. He said: “The original owner would have passed away, but his daughter runs the gas station,” he said. “She’s an amazing person.”

Mr Deal added that generations of residents have patronised the business. “There’s a lot of memories in that gas station,” Mr Deal said. “Persons who would have been sending messages would say, ‘From I was a child, I used to go to that gas station’.”.

Andrew ‘Blue’ Johnson, who ran as an independent candidate in Freetown in the May 12 general election, said: “This gas station has been a staple in our community for over 50 years, a place I and many others grew up visiting as children and still frequent now as adults purchasing gas.

“For those of us on Kemp Road, this spot has been more than just a gas station. It’s been a meeting point, a landmark you pass every day, and part of what makes our neighborhood feel like home.”

Mr Johnson identified the business as a long-standing family operation. “I know the station has been run by Celeste, the daughter of Mr Knowles and Mrs Ruby, and it’s been part of the Knowles family for a long time,” he said.

“Celeste and the family, please reach out to me directly. I want to offer whatever support and assistance I can as you deal with this. This community stands with you.”

Many residents echoed similar sentiments, sharing personal memories and expressing hopes for recovery in comments under the social media post.

“Such an unfortunate event and a significant landmark in that community,” one commenter wrote. “I hope they are able to rebuild so that history can continue for many years to come.”

Another resident reflected on decades of patronage. “Been around since I was a baby. Praying they can rebuild and push forward,” the commenter said.

Others remembered the station’s role beyond fuel sales, describing kindness from its owners, long-standing community relationships and its importance to daily life.

One former jitney operator recalled stopping there for diesel during early morning shifts, saying the owners sometimes extended credit when cash was short.

Another resident described the original owner as someone who “help build the Kemp Road community”.

Mr Deal said his office intends to remain engaged with the family. “We spoke briefly, and we intend to continue the conversation to see how best we can be of any assistance and support,” he said.

As investigators work to determine the cause of the fire, residents continue mourning the damage to a business many viewed not simply as a gas station, but as a fixture of community life. “Free Town is strong, resilient,” Mr Deal wrote, “and we will stand together through this.”