A body was uncovered under several layers of debris inside a home gutted by fire Sunday night in the Red Bay area of East End, police said Monday afternoon.
The discovery was apparently unexpected: Opposition member Marlon Penn, who represents District Eight, stated Monday morning in a Facebook post that no one had been harmed in the blaze.
The identity of the body had not been determined as of Monday afternoon, police said, and they didn’t provide an update by Beacon press time yesterday afternoon. Though they did not say what started the fire or provide further information, they noted that an investigation was ongoing.
‘Heroic actions’
Mr. Penn’s Facebook post commended Station Officer Albato George and Sub Officers Samuel Lettsome and Benson Thomas, along with “the entire team from the Fire and Rescue Department and some concerned residents who were onsite last evening.”
“Were it not for their swift and heroic actions to contain and extinguish last night’s fire in Red Bay, the circumstances could have been so much [worse] for the properties and lives of persons living in the Red Bay/Parham Town community,” Mr. Penn wrote.
He added that he witnessed their actions first-hand.
“I therefore give our community’s collective gratitude and appreciation as representative for the efforts of all persons involved,” he stated.
The representative also extended sympathy to families whose property sustained damage.
“I, however, urge residents to please be responsible regarding starting fires around their property and do so only with the consent, guidance and supervision of the Fire and Rescue Department,” he added.
“Our territory [has] been going through a very warm and dry period and such unauthorised actions could prove destructive.”