(Trinidad Guardian) Fire victim Lesli Ann Jeffers was hit with a second major tragedy this week when she lost her home to a fire on Monday, a day after her mother passed away.
Jeffers, almost lost her father, Stedson, but is thanking God his life was saved through the selfless act of three young men who ran into the burning house to rescue the visually impaired man.
The fire, which destroyed two homes has left six people homeless.
The incident occurred at about 12.30 pm at Calvary Hill, Port-of-Spain.
During an interview with the Guardian Media, Jeffers said she was at home when a neighbour called out to her and alerted to her to the smell of smoke.
“When I checked downstairs where my father lives I saw fire. I called out to the neighbour to help throw water. I tried to get him but the fire and smoke was too much. Some fellas around here went in and lifted him out and took him away from the scene,” she said.
The woman’s father, Stedson Jeffers said he is only left with the clothes on his back.
“I heard pop, pop, pop and then I smell smoke so I say is like the electrical wire that spark off and it caught on fire on things in the room. I smelt the smoke and heard the fire raging and three men come and lift me up and save me.”
He believed the fire began in a storage room.
Jeffers, who lived upstairs to her father, said she lost everything in the fire.
“I have been living here for the past 25 years. I left and came back here to live, I have four children but they don’t live here with me. I don’t know how I’m going to handle this because just yesterday (Sunday) I lost my mother.”
Councillor Clint Baptiste who came to the scene was grateful to the young men for their selfless and heroic act.
“I’m thankful for the quick response from the fire officers and also thankful to the young men who saved the blind man (referring to Stedson).”
Baptiste said officials from the Port-of-Spain City Corporation’s Disaster Management Unit responded and took the necessary information from the victims.
He assured that help will be given to them accordingly.
He added arrangements were made for them to stay at the community centre in the area overnight if they had no place to rest.
Fire Prevention Officers are expected to return to the scene of the fire today to carry out further investigations to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
