Trinidad and Tobago Guardian
14 April 2023 Page 8
Home destroyed in bush fire 3 injured in La Romain blaze By Radhica De Silva Three members of a La Romain family are hospitalised after embers from a bush fire ignited a tree and spread to their home, burning it to the ground early yesterday. Christopher Branka, 60, suffered serious burns to his head, back and hands while Brian Branka, 61, and Yasmine Mohammed, 50, suffered minor burns to their hands and shoulders as they stumbled out of the burning house with the help of neighbours. The family had been asleep at their home on Southern Main Road, La Romain, when they were awakened by the smell of smoke around 2.45 am. Neighbour Suzette Jangalee said Brian was the first to wake up as he slept in the upstairs bedroom. She said he left his room and came downstairs to see a fire burning brightly in the backyard. “All the trees were lighting up and he told me the fire started to fall on him because the trees are as high as the house,” she recalled. She said Brian wasn’t sure what was going on and who lit the fire. “He tried to connect the water hose to out the fire but within a few minutes the whole house was ablaze,” she added. Mohammed was trapped in her room and could not get out as the gate was jammed, Jangalee said. “She was screaming for help. Some guys from down the road came and they cut the gate and took her out. She woke me up with her screams. When I came out, the police put her in the jeep and took her to the hospital,” she said. Jangalee said she realised the fire would spread to her house so she immediately started wetting her walls and floors. Firefighters led by FSSO Jackson arrived within 20 minutes and managed to stop the fire from spreading to Pamela Teelucksingh’s house. Jangalee said she was thankful nobody died in the fire. “It was shocking and hurtful to see what happened because this is a good family. Everyone knows them. They did not light any fire in their backyard so we do not know how this fire started,” Jangalee said. She said Christopher got severe burns on his hand, head and back. Brian got burnt on his hands and head and Mohammed got burnt on the back. “Christopher got burnt the most,” she added. All three are in stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. Officers from the San Fernando CID, including PCs Jagroop, Figaroo and Cabera, visited the scene. A senior fire officer repeated a warning to the public that it is illegal to light outdoor fires without a permit. Offenders face a possible $20,000 fine and six months in jail. PICTURE KRISTIAN DE SILVA- Fire prevention officers at the scene of a fire at Southern Main Road, La Romain, which destroyed a house and left three family members with burn injuries.