The fire at the mini-mall complex, comprising two buildings, which housed several businesses, spanned from Piggott Street to Castries Street, drew scores of curious people to the scene.
Preliminary investigations by fire officials suggest the fire started on the top floor and spread from south to north rapidly.
There was also reverse spread of the fire in a southerly direction, which caused the building owned by the Arnold family to suffer damage in the vicinity of $30,000, a senior fire officer told the Express.
The Unit Trust Corporation building suffered approximately $10,000 in damage, while a building occupied by David Maharaj, owned by the Alis, suffered minor damage to the roof and bash board, this was quickly extinguished.
High tension T&TEC wires and street lights were also damaged. The store owned by the Phillip family was not insured. However, the office belonging to attorney Anthony Arnold was insured, fire officials told the Express. Dale Phillips, owner of Phillips Legacy, said it was a big loss but he was thankful for life.
The Phillips store has been around for the past 61 years, and the building is approximately 35 years old, according to Dale Phillips. The building housed approximately 16 tenants, including Price is Right, J Puter Teck, Hercules Hardware, a bridal store, and a Chinese restaurant.
“From the time I heard the phone rang at that hour I say is something big, and you know with all my years experience, I know it ain’t no thief Christmas morning. We will bounce back, and as early as Monday morning I would be opening for business at Canaan,” Phillips said.
Phillips said it seems fire officials needed additional help, as at one point officials were calling for more water. “We see one or two firemen was on top this building, they were asking for water, they were asking for water. Two or three people reach me and say, why they ain’t bring water from the sea.”
Fire officials told the Express five fire tenders were used to fight the blaze: two from Crown Point and three from Scarborough. Officers who were also off duty as well as those on holidays also responded to assist their colleagues, a senior fire officer said.
The intense heat cracked window panes at the nearby RBTT branch and at the Phillips Fabric Store and the UTC, fire officers said.
Minority Leader Ashworth Jack, who was also on the scene, said proper equipment was needed for fire officials in Tobago. He said he observed a number of leaking hoses at the scene.
“I have also observed, we seem to have a water problem, and we seem to have an equipment problem with the Fire Service. I am seeing some leaks that are bigger than the nozzle,” he said.
Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London said while the matter was a sensitive one, political mileage should not be grasped.
The cause of the blaze is yet to be determined.
