PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad--Despite attempts to save his bedridden wife, a raging fire proved too much for a Moruga pensioner who was forced to jump through a window, leaving his wife in their burning house.
After the Fire Services extinguished the blaze, the charred remains of great grandmother Jean Mc Leod, who celebrated her 73rd birthday on July 24, were found close to the front door of their Sixth Company Village home.
Her husband, Hector Mc Leod (82) is currently warded at the San Fernando General Hospital, where he is being treated for second degree burns to about 30 per cent of his body.
The elderly couple lived with their son, Melville, the last of their 12 children (two deceased) but he was at work at the time the fire occurred around 4:10 pm on Wednesday.
The family also lost their four-bedroom home, valued at over TT $200,000 and over TT $100,000 worth of equipment for their welding and mechanic company.
Police reports said after Mc Leod jumped through the window from an eight-foot height and alerted neighbours, they formed a bucket brigade. However, they could not extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Melville said his father received burns to his back, hands and face. “My father was trying to pull her out of the house but because of the blaze he could not. He ended up having to dive through the window to save his life,” he added. He said they lost everything in the fire.
“We do need a lot of assistance because we lost a lot here. We have a company and all the tools we lost,” he said. Melville said there was a lot of speculation but he could not say what caused the fire. He thanked the Fire Service sand the Princes Town Regional Corporation for their swift response and assistance.
Corporation chairman, Aiknath Singh, who visited the family along with councillors Natalia Mendez and Haniff Salamat, described the incident as sad. “The family also had a motorcar repair business. I saw at least three vehicles burnt, the welding plant, brand new compressor. They indicated to me that the current went and when it came back they heard an explosion,” he said.
Singh said the corporation’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) Unit responded quickly and assisted with mattresses and food. He said they were also liaising with the relevant agencies to find temporary lodging for the family until clearance was given to demolish the ruins. They will also be monitoring the situation and assisting in whatever way they can to help the family rebuild their home, he added. ~ Trinidad and Tobago Guardian ~
