Three fires strike Barbados in less than 12 hours

(Barbados Nation) Three fires within a 12-hour period kept the Barbados Fire Service busy.

The popular Frankie’s Bar and Canteen, located opposite Grantley Adams International Airport, was gutted by fire just after 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a National Housing Corporation (NHC) unit in Harbour View, The Pine, St Michael, was extensively damaged by a blaze at 2:02 a.m. yesterday, while later in the morning in Chapman Street, The City, a husband and wife lost their home and possessions.

Frank Barrow, who owned Frankie’s Bar, said he was shaken by the tragedy because the business, which was in operation for 23 years, was his only livelihood. Barrow, who operated there for 20 years before suffering a stroke, had leased it to Anderson McClean for the past three years.

McClean told the DAILY NATION he got a call saying the Charnocks, Christ Church establishment was on fire and he rushed to the scene. All the equipment used for the operation, where four people were employed, was lost. The building was extensively damaged.

In Chapman Street, a fire just before midday left Nadira and Robin Narine homeless. The uninsured, two-bedroom timber house they rented from Mohmed Salim Patel was extensively damaged.

The couple were not at home at the time and nothing was saved.

Another fire in the early hours of the morning extensively damaged the rental unit occupied by an elderly Dorothy McClean. Additionally, four adults and two children had to seek alternative accommodation after the adjoining unit they occupied also suffered damage.

Sonia Aymes said the unit she shared with her two children and two grandchildren suffered water damage and cracked walls.

Accommodation is being sought for McClean and the Aymes family.