BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A late-night fire that gutted a College Street Ghaut residential building has claimed the life of a young man.
Before midnight (Sept 20), SKNVibes received information which suggested that a house located at Upper College Street was set ablaze, and subsequent information suggested one individual lost his life during the incident.
In an interview with Fire Sub Station Officer (FSSO) Clarence Hendrickson, SKNVibes learnt that at about 11:54 p.m. a call was placed to the Basseterre branch of the St. Kitts Nevis Fire and Rescue Services to which a unit responded.
He further explained that upon arrival, the fire officers met the building engulfed in flames and worked feverishly to contain and quell the blaze.
The success at quenching the flames was by no means the end of the ordeal, and as explained by Hendrickson, a search of the gutted house revealed the remains of a male.
“Upon completion, officers went into the house and the victim was found burnt in a bedroom on the seaside of the house.”
SKNVibes understands that the deceased, who has been identified as Jason Gillard (34), was removed from the building and taken from the scene by a vehicle from Jenkins Funeral Home.
Gillard’s younger sister, Trinette Chumney, told SKNVibes exclusively that she was at home plaiting her hair when she received word of the fire.
“I was here at home with my boyfriend and I was combing my hair when a woman came by the house and told me that my grandmother’s house (in which Gillard lived) is on fire. So I left the house and I went up the road. When I got up the road, I saw the house on fire. A short while after I heard people asking for my brother. I went to the two areas where I know he hangs out and he was not there...I was concerned…When I went back to the house I saw them bringing someone out of the house in a bag. I was told it was my brother. I didn’t want to see him so I went home and tried to relax my brain.”
Chumney noted that she last saw her brother on Friday when he went to her house to collect items, which were sent by their mother who lives abroad. His love of music and his extra-ordinarily helpful nature are some of the characteristics by which she will remember him.
“He was very helpful and always willing to help. He used to like a lot of music and his favourite artiste was Vanessa Williams. Whenever you call him to help, he was always willing come and assist, and that is one of the things I will remember most about him.”
Fire officials have indicated that they are not aware of the cause of the fire and the police informed that they are making investigations into the incident.
