Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer

Ocho Rios, St Ann:

Fire believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit destroyed a 15-apartment building in Main Street, St Ann's Bay, yesterday, leaving 19 people homeless.

The mostly wooden structure also housed three business establishments - a barber shop, an upholstery repair shop and an Island Dairies depot - all of which were badly affected.

It is understood that some of the occupants of the building were asleep when the fire started and had to be rescued by people in the area.

Alarm raised

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that about 8:40 a.m., patrons at the nearby Shell Service Station and Car Wash saw fire coming from a section of the building and raised an alarm.

Leslie Stephens, better known as 'Sparrow', had just driven the St Ann Parish Council's water truck into the gas station to be filled up with petrol when he was forced into action.

Stephens had to use water from his truck to prevent the blaze from spreading to both the gas station and the Lifeline Deliverance Church before fire personnel from the St Ann's Bay Station, who were also quick on the scene, took charge.