FIRE DESTROYS SECTIONS OF MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH
- Details
- Category: News Flash
- Published on Friday, 02 March 2012 20:58
- Written by Dwayne Blair
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Sadness now looms over the community of Mandeville in Manchester, as residents question what caused the fire that destroyed a large section of the Mount Saint Joseph Preparatory School, last Saturday, forcing the administration to suspend classes, excepting for those students who are preparing to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) next month.
Reports from the Fire Department revealed that they received a call about 5:15 pm that the school was ablaze, when the unit arrived, the wooden structure was already engulfed by flames and the firemen had to rescue three adults, who were trapped in the upstairs of the burning building.
Members of Mount Saint Joseph’s family and well-wishers were seen assisting the firefighters, while others hurriedly tried to save books, furniture and equipment from the blaze.
The fire destroyed most of the original structure, which is the old convent built in 1934, two kindergarten classrooms, a computer room and staff quarters and the personal belongings of the six occupants.
According to Deputy Superintendent Julian Davis Buckle of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, investigations are ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire.
The Mandeville Weekly urges Manchesterians to give their full support to the Board and Management of the Mount Saint Joseph preparatory School, the oldest early childhood institution in the parish as they make plans to rebuild the areas destroyed by the fire.
Once again concerns about the efficiency of our Fire Brigade are being raised as the residents of Manchester continue to call on the Minister of Local Government and Community Development to look into modernising and equipping the Fire department across the island as too many lives and properties have been lost due to the lack of proper equipment.
