70-y-o dies in fire at apartment complex

An early morning fire at Gallery Apartments on Oxford Road in New Kingston on Thursday claimed the life of a 70-year-old resident, leaving the community shaken and mourning the loss.

The charred remains of Bill Barnes, a longtime resident of the complex, were discovered in his sixth-floor apartment after firefighters extinguished the blaze, which reportedly started around 4 a.m.

Senior Superintendent Patrick Gooden of the Kingston and St Andrew Division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade told The Gleaner that two fire units – one from Half-Way Tree and another from Rollington Town – responded swiftly to the scene.

He said the fire was confined to one apartment on the sixth floor of the building, while the other units sustaiuned only minor exterior damage.

Preliminary reports suggest that Barnes was helping family members escape the fire when he made the tragic decision to re-enter the burning apartment.

“During firefighters’ operations, it was reported to firefighters on the location that someone is unaccounted for and possibly could be in the building,” he said.

Gooden used the incident to urge the public to avoid re-entering burning buildings under any circumstances.

“Re-entering your property is something that you should avoid doing, whether for money, whether for property, whether for your telephone, you should as best as possible avoid doing that,” he said.

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze. Gooden noted that access to the high-rise structure posed no significant challenge as the building’s external staircases allowed firefighters to respond efficiently.

While distraught relatives declined to speak with The Gleaner, neighbours remembered Barnes as an active member of the community who had recently returned from vacation.

They commended the Jamaica Fire Brigade for their swift response and professionalism.

Robert Francis, a resident of the of the seven-storey complex for more than 50 years, praised the team for preventing the fire from spreading.

“The fire started [in Barnes’s apartment] and, basically, was confined to there. Except for the [awning], the floor below it, the only damage it suffered was water,” he said.

Francis said he was asleep when the fire alarm went off and was grateful his block remained unaffected. He quickly evacuated and offered help to neighbours in distress.

Another resident, who requested anonymity, was seen clearing debris from her apartment and described the experience as traumatic.

“It was very horrifying, a frightening experience. We’re just thankful we are alive,” she said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com