FIRE YESTERDAY engulfed the Cool Petroleum Limited fuel depot at Newport West, Kingston, damaging sections of the complex and leaving a worker badly burnt.

Winston Ormsby, the company's general manager of operations, told The Gleaner that the blaze started at 3 p.m. He said a loading rack for trucks, a petroleum tank and an unused building were scorched but the compound was not extensively damaged.

A man contracted to Cool Petroleum sustained extensive burns, especially to his face and lower body. He was admitted to the Kingston Public Hospital but there were no reports on his condition at press time.

Ormsby was unable to say what caused the fire or give an estimate of the damage.

It took several units from the York Park Fire Station to extinguish the blaze.

Cool Petroleum, which has more than 80 outlets, is owned by businessman Joey Issa. Its Newport West station was formerly owned by Shell.