(Trinidad Guardian) A Sangre Grande community was thrown into mourning yesterday, after a mother and her two sons died in an overnight fire.
Police said 48-year-old Natasha Nancoo and sons Adesh Joseph, 10, and Enrique Reyes, 19, perished in an early morning fire at their Cooblal Trace, Toco Main Road home.
According to reports, the mother and her children, who were autistic, spoke with neighbours just before they settled into their home and later retired to bed on Wednesday night.
However, at 6.15 am yesterday, neighbours were awakened by a loud explosion and the faint screaming of Nancoo. When they looked out, they saw fire coming from the wooden structure. Residents immediately called the Sangre Grande Fire Station and the Sangre Grande police. However, by the time neighbours responded to the site, the entire house was engulfed by a raging fire, which they said consumed the house in mere minutes.
Fire station sub officer Quintin and his team responded to the call. However, by the time they arrived there was nothing they could do to save the occupants of the house, which was already burnt to the ground. The firefighters were able to contain the fire from spreading to nearby houses.
When the fire was brought under control, firefighters found Nancoo’s body close to the front step of the house and her sons in a bed in their bedroom.
Relatives still said they found it strange that even the boys made no attempt to escape the house and called on the police to investigate the matter properly.
Speaking at the scene, Bickram Joseph, Adesh’s father, said, “I got a call about a fire where my son was staying with his mother and went to see if the house really burned down. On arrival I saw a house burned down with three of them. It is really kinda very confusing to see that none of them attempted to escape.”
He began to cry thereafter and could not continue the interview.
Relatives said Enrique’s father lives in the United States and would have to be informed about the tragic death of his son, admitting they did not know how he would react to the news.
Guardian Media was also informed that Nancoo’s common-law husband, who ran a business on the Toco Main Road, was gunned down in front of his shop in January. After her husband’s death, Nancoo began renting the house at Cooblal Trace.
Relatives said she was living with her common-law husband for more than five years and was due to inherit some benefits from the business he ran.
Apostle Jeraldine Dookantee, who wept while speaking with Guardian Media, said the family were members of her church, Jesus Deliverance Tabernacle at Vega De Oropouche, and on Sunday they were in church praising and worshipping.
“They were very humble and respected and gave their lives to Christ. They attended church regularly and will be missed by all members,” Dookantee said.
She extended her condolences to the bereaved family.
District Medical Officer Dr Prince viewed the bodies, made his pronouncement and ordered their removal to a funeral home in Sangre Grande before they were taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, for postmortems.
Two newly elected councillors to the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, Daryl Mohan (Vega De Oropouche) and David Elves Guy (Sangre Grande Northeast) also visited and offered condolences to family members.
Fire officials also visiting the scene were Ag DFO Robert, Ag ADFO Lyn Blackman-Bobb and Ag ADFO Anton Blackman.
Fire officers are expected to return to the scene fire as they seek to determine the cause.
Sgt Kissoon of Arouca Homicide Bureau is continuing with the investigation.