Offices and business places were abandoned around lunch time as hordes of workers, shoppers and the curious raced to Great George Street when news broke of a raging fire.
The fire reduced one business place to ashes while at the same time threatening to spread to a nearby dwelling house.
Onlookers watched in horror and shouted to fire officers as as the flames grew spewing thick black smoke into the sky and threatening to blow the glass off the adjacent dwelling house.
The blaze which had started in a barber shop owned by a Haitian national, was eventually brought under control by the fire department.
Several other businesses in the area were affected.
The owner of the barber shop told DNO that he was in Gachette’s Jewelry Store when he heard of the fire.
“I wasn’t inside there …them man that was working in side there so when the fire start,” he said, “When them fireman come they start to send water, send water.”
He said he lost “quite a few things” including TVs, fridge, a laptop, and an iPad. “Even my passport lost,” he said.
The building was not insured and the owner said he believes it was an electrical fire.
“At the back it started …. is electricity man,” he stated. “While them man inside, they see smoke coming from at the back, when they tried to open the door, the smoke just ‘whoosh’ …they had to run out side they couldn’t save nothing, nothing”.
Another witness to the fire spoke about his experience.
“We stood up there and we saw smoke coming from the back of the house, and then we called out saying ‘smoke, smoke, smoke……by the time the occupants of the place knew what was happening it just burst into flames … we were all standing outside there, it just burst into flames”.
Meanwhile the family members of the nearby house which was affected said they will be moving away for good since they lost everything.
nature isle 365 rivers but not one stand pipe zafagas said so
So Sad that some Dominicans are so damn ignorant and naïve. And I agree with the individual that recognize that its one hose. ONE hose. That’s a joke. These are the things Dominicans need to remember when they are voting instead of gossiping and being stupid with their comments. You all are lucky that this sort of thing does not happen more often, especially with the change in weather, fire can be started in the walls and electrical sockets and spread quicker than one thinks. So to have one hose is a JOKE plus god only knows how long it takes them to get on location. Thank God no lives were lost.
I can’t understand how the workers in the barber shop and customers did not smell the smoke or see the fire. Does it mean that we have people who can’t smell?
Can you believe that the workers got alerted only when other people shouted fire. Lots of quetions my brother.
you mean to tell me i hit the nail so hard on the head yesterday that you all remove my comment. ha ha well tell your reporter to do not rush to have the news out first but to report what exactly happen.
my brother don’t even have a little insurance to get recompensed for the loss…
It is especially important for small business owners to carefully consider and evaluate their business insurance needs because they may have more personal financial exposure in the event of loss. If a business owner does not feel he or she has the ability to effectively asses business risk and the need for coverage, he or she should work with a reputable, experienced and licensed insurance broker.
English is definitely not the main spoken language of Dominica.
I think we need to startign saying that we have a “patois” like “dem Jamaicans dere”
Reading some of these comments is like trying to decipher a code.
Wow.
I love my Dominica but as a people… we need to know when, where and how. DNO comment section is not the place for all this “foreign type” of language.
you take life to freaking seriously
Today, Dominica has more fires than in previous years. The buildings are becoming older. Especially the older buildings of some years, the wiring should be inspected regularly.
A few months ago there was another fire in Roseau. If I am not mistaken, it may have been close to that area. From what I read it was due to electric wiring. DNO did not post an update.
Thank God no one was injured. Owners of businesses and homes you should take out an insurance policy. You never know when a fire will occur. It is also helpful if your place is broken into and items stolen, you will be compensated by the insurance company. Ensure that you have proper locks on your doors and windows are secure.
Oh lord in them people place
Another opportunity for the Chinese to open shop there.
This fire hose looks like a garden hose to me!
overload…electrical..
but all you not hearing that the have his passport inside there we mister stout man
Dear Roseau Residents:
Please note that it is dangerous to allow Haitians to cook cat meat in the back of their barber shops. Cat meat takes a long time to cook and Haitians usually leave their “cat” pots unattended to go consult their voodoo priests or priestesses. This can result in serious fires and the loss of lunch AND dinner. I am sorry to hear about the ladies house! Dominicans please guard your cats!
Help!!!! up till now one year after the Portsmouth tragedy the young lady from Portsmouth CAN’T GET HELP. Empty promises. All now she need help and not getting.
The owner said he was not there but is electrical, is electrical. Something fishy about that statement.
One year after the lady from Portsmouth died in the fire and the daughter and child lost everything in the house, up till now they have not gotten ANY ASSISTANCE from Government for housing? I waiting to see how soon they going and give assistance to the Hatian. Quick quik quik. Is a miracle they doh say the had a vault full of money there too. I watching them so close is not funny dat senseless Government that making empty promises.
Dis is wat we get for removing all the stand pipes in rosesu
It is so sad thank God it was in the day and not in the night because you never know what would have happen.Claudette I am so sorry but you will survive and I know you will get help Just encourage yourself and be strong. I will talk to you .
It’s sad that a man had to loose his bread and butter. Make it worst he’s not the richest of folks, good luck with getting your establishment back in order.
How Did That Fire Happen ?
I Feeling sorry for de lady house and de Barber shop wii
De Lady ganna be Shocked when she come to her house DE Lady wasn’t even in de house
This is the Biggest Fire i Ever Seen
And The fire wasn’t outing and all de lady roof had fire
Inside de lady house had fire
I Dere taking out video
IM RLY RLY SORRY FOR DE LADY AND DE BARBERSHOP
Hashan….have you been drinking so early in the day already? Your language is all over the place. Calm down and rephrase so we can try and understand what you are saying. Thank you.
i’m late but do not say hashan hve a little more respect lemme tell u dat allu da ppl drinking more dan haitains so shut the hell up der
Boy big fire wii if feeling srry fir de lady house and de barber shop if de lady was dere de lady would be shocked and fainted but de actual question is: How Did The Fire Started ?
good job fire fighters. I was there and there was 2 fire trucks. all u them domy in cans there just like to run all u mouth.
i wonder what dat cause the fire
i am so sorry for wat happened- fire have to stop in dominica
This is Roseau the city, ALL of these old buildings should be inspected to make sure that they adhere to modern electrical codes. If the building is not up to codes it should be condemned. That is my opinion. So next time a debate arises for doing away with these old buildings, when you mention historical value think of the bigger picture, which is the potential danger that they pose. A hub for rodents and roaches, poor wiring and plumbing, not to mention that they are just ugly.
They do not need to be condemned. They should be inspected and upgraded. This could be done but at a cost. If the owners refuse to do so, then, the building(s) should be condemned.
Fire alarms should be installed in homes and businesses. This should be mandatory.
It appears to me that a lot has to be done in Dominica about such matters and other ones.
Too many boxes of matches in Roseau.
Why is everyone just standing watching and taking pictures, why don’t they help?
Dno said selections of Roseau were out of current
section
“sections”” of Roseau. If DNO said “selections”, it is an error or is it your error.
The streets of the city are very animated as workers have crowded out of their offices to witness the event.
People on that island have never seen a fire?
Yes, We have seen many fires before. Some much bigger than this one. But right now, we idle and frustrated and looking for action.
I do agree with you.
Could you imagine if the house was connected to a gas main which could have resulted in an explosion. Not only the house would have burnt to ashes but also could the interfering spectators would be as well.
Please people,take note of Health and safety and let the experiences of the fireman do their job a little more professionally.
If, if, if! Man Dominica has gas main then? If my auntie was a man she would be my uncle. Let’s make sure these business places have adequate insurance before they are allowed to operate. That in turn will ensure that the property will meet adequate safety standards as dictated by the fire dept.
Thats a good comment.
But, you are so right. You ought to be commended because everyday a house catching fire in Roseau…
Some people man.
So you mean to tell me that whatever part of the world you are in, when a house catches fire people just move on and pass on by like nothing is happening? Unbelievable…
sorry I did not mean to thumbs you down!
This is nothing new and I am not surprised. You must be a young one or were not yet born or were still in diapers, in those days when fires would occur.
When there were no TV’s, computers, Internet and there was a fire, some people would leave their beds in the early hours of the morning “to go and see the fire”, if they occurred at that time. For some reason, fires attract people as also accidents or certain incidents. People always congregate to view the scene. This is not contained solely to Dominica.
This reminds me of Paul Keens-Douglas narration of a man who would follow the fire truck, “saying he outing fire. Whenever there was a fire he was there.” This is laughable. I have this on tape.
All the same, those who viewed the fire were either affected or idle ones – non workers.
Hubbs reach in time for the Operation!!!
its just weird how fire officials operate , based on what am seeing , One officer is operating a hose, isnt there other hose,so other officers could use hydrant in the area to wet other houses so that they catch.only 1 fire trunk in roseau?
WHAT IS GOING TO MY WORLD
Thank God there are no fatalities. Very sad indeed. I also hope that they’re able to move on positively. Well done to our galant firefighters!!! God bless Dominica!
Does anyone know what actaully casued the fire
lol…that was funny
thats wasn’t funny u retarded !
Probly some eletrical stuff that caused the FIRE
Thank God it happened in the Day time, and no one got hurt or died. Thank God for water in Dominica,
and for the fire fighters in this heat of Roseau.
But wait awhile nor… so money that store dey like like that? put them Bags and clothes inside nor you doh seeing/smelling that smoke?!
shut ur face, our live are more impoortant and what u all wishing for will fall right in ur face. we open again, come shop till u drop….
well u sot.. is good I want you u dats y I said tht. and nothing would not have happened to allu if allu had only put to things inside… well I GUESS IS SMOKE BAGS FOR SALE!!!!!!
so many potentional customers came and see the fire, people who normally wouldnt pass on that lane! plus look the store reach on DNO… i myself dere checking those school bags nice… lol. free advertising boy! lol… but same thing i here saying, that store owner is just ridiculous. those things must be stinking of smoke by now! you have your laundry on the line and before you see a little smoke in the area you running and pull off your clothes from the wire, or your clothes smelling smoky! much more you have a store and a fire burning next door! very unwise to leave the shop open like that.
this is horrilble
omg gasp
Thank God other homes were not affected
Should we thank God for the home that was burnt. Was it him or someone else that caused it.
cause vs allow
google it
O.M.G
so much old houses in Roseau once one catch all must
The electrical wires should be inspected.
boii wat happening to my country na , this is so so sad and i am really sorry to hear that, but wat went wrong?
This would be an example of poorly built and maintained houses causing damage to their surroundings.
I could understand the newer ones may be poorly built but not the older houses. Houses of today are not built as well as those of previous years.
You know, in Dominica, it does not appear that they take this matter seriously. The government should ensure that those houses are inspected at least annually.
Are you saying fires do not occur in other countries?
i am not saying that other countries dont havde fires i was just checking that im so sorry for wats to my country- read and understand before u speak.
Justin Bieber ur not the real justin bieber
Sorry, but read your other comment and see if you have a writing problem or not. You said initially, “What is happening to my country?” Which indicates something is wrong with the country.
“justin bieber July 31, 2013
i am not saying that other countries dont havde fires i was just checking that im so sorry for wats to my country- read and understand before u speak.”
thats sad
im so so sorry for this and so sad that this happened, but wat went wrong?
Rest in piece best barbershop ever, will greatly miss dem good haircuts.
Aspetially for de lady house to sad
Wayyyy.. more heat in d place
DNO you are posting some wrong information here. Not all of Roseau that is without electricity, that’s not the truth, it is only persons who were connected on that particular pole are now left without power.
I am in town right now at work and we have electricity and didn’t even know that there was a fire until we were told.
A bit of advise, ensure that you have at least 95% of the facts before you wrongly inform the public again.
@$$$$ – Suppose it was your company’s generator that was up and running providing your department with electricity?
Quick my company has no generator, we connected directly to domlec like most small businesses in Roseau, just so you know. It is apparent that you know very little about electricity, however, I do so let me school you a little bit ok…
In Roseau, there may be several different power distribution poles which branch out electricity to different segments of town. This means that you in one building will be on one and the building next to you may be on another. Hence if there is a problem on that pole for that segment, the result will be that you will have no electricity yet your neighbouring building will.
This is to avoid the entire town from being on a stand still in case of something like what happened yesterday happens, because not all businesses have generator.
I hope this information helps you understand why people needs to get their facts straight and unlike me and the rest of the public who were misinformed by DNO, I give you ‘Quick’ not at least 95% of the information I’ll give you the full 100%.
And to all the haters…. WHAT THE FLETCH EVER!!!
“advice”
the pot was too hot!
OMG…Hope everybody is safe. the shop i always go to do my eye brows.
Favourite place to get my eyebrows done. Was there after work yesterday getting my eyebrows done. My heart do go out to the owner and staff. I pray that the Lord provide you with another place where you can continue to give nationals your continued good service. God bless you all
What is wrong with your eyebrows? Are they too long and out of shape?
Well ya papá
Well ya papá
If the fire officails don’t work quickly everything in the line is going to catch fire. God help them
Its not all of Roseau that is without current…because i am currently at work and have current
PAPAMETE Roseau shot down woye
Ebeh Country Lover you was waiting for the post
yes I was just like how u like news I like it more . myob we all from D/ca we fast like that
you saying that in joke hmmmm under that heat there
hmmmmm roseau so hot already
That is not funny
Retard