Abandoned Building Goes Up in Flames, Bystanders Blame Vagrant

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The clear blue sky of a beautiful Monday morning was marred by a thin line of smoke that got darker just after 9 a.m.

We followed the smoke, arriving on scene right across from C.C. Sweeting Senior High School around 9:30 a.m.

Police confirming a single-story structure sustained damage in the blaze.

We met firefighters working hard to put out the remaining flames.

This business owner, who wanted to remain anonymous, tells us when she arrived at work, she met the flames burning dangerously close to her establishment.

Business Owner –

“We’ve had a problem for over two years now with vagrants living in these buildings, [calling] the police time and time again. I’ve contacted the owners of these buildings who don’t really wanna take care of their properties and it’s a safety concern for me at this point because I work here, I’m here every day.“

“This is the same house that someone got stopped in a few months ago when there was a serial stabber in this area, so it’s just become problematic.”

While police haven’t confirmed, bystanders allege a vagrant who frequents the area started the blaze.

One of them tells me he was walking by when the fire started.

Alfred – Resident

“So I walked back because I wasn’t too sure, cause the gentleman in there he might be smoking, so when I really look all the smoke coming from the front too, so what I do I walk back, around the back, call this young lady, tell her call the boss lady, and tell her the place smoking.”

Business Owner –

“The second abandon building right there was on fire last year, that was about June or July 2024, where the other building was on fire, presumably set by a vagrant as well.”

Urban Renewal has tried to tackle the issue, demolishing several abandoned buildings over the years, places that often harbour criminal activity or present fire threats like we see today.

Business Owner –

“Get on the owners of these properties, I don’t wanna take care of their properties. I mean your property should be secured. Should not be [an] influx of homeless people taking refuge inside your property, which points to a bigger issue.”