Massive Blaze Destroys 4 Buildings, Leaves 29 Families Homeless

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The massive blaze at the heart of Nassau city reduced four buildings including an apartment complex to rubble and ash.

29 families watched everything they owned go up in flames as they stood by and watched in horror Thursday night.

Officials taking a multi-governmental approach to contain the blaze, drawing on support from the airport fire services, the Defence Force, the Ministry of Works and the Water and Sewerage Corporation.

Despite best efforts, hours went by before the blaze was contained.

Resident at the Victoria Court Apartment Complex

“The most important thing is life, but for me was trying to save the building, like if that was gone, at least you could’ve had some people that could be here.”

It was a devastating ordeal late Thursday night as firefighters battled a massive structural blaze that damaged four buildings in downtown Nassau, but even more devastating was the 29 apartment units at Victoria Court were destroyed.

Those residents of the 80-year-old building left to find a place to lay their heads.

This is just one of the residents who told Our News around 2 this morning that she lived in the apartment building for 30 years.

She was emotional as she blamed the devastation on a lack of resources.

Resident at the Victoria Court Apartment Complex

“This happened because no resources and the people they need to be trained and they needed to be more efficient. Like how you do the first response when a child is missing it’s the same thing.”

But how did it start?

Police commissioner Shanta Knowles told Our News police were called to the incident around 8:30 Thursday night.

When Our News got on scene just before 10 Thursday night, officers were hard at work battling the blaze.

Roads were blocked off at Parliament Street and Shirley Street up to the Sydney Poitier Bridge.

But despite their best efforts, it seemed the fire continued to spread.

Soon electricity was cut to the area and thick plumes of black smoke covered the sky.

The matter called for more backup, as the Lynden Pindling International Airport was shut down, and that fire truck was redirected to the scene.

However, the truck didn’t get on scene until 11:15 pm.

Resources from the Water and Sewerage Corporation that were conducting work nearby were also called on to assist.

But despite the additional resources, the fire still spread to the building on the corner of Elizabeth Avenue and Bay Street.

Completely engulfing the roof, Knowles telling Our News the wind posed a challenge.

Shanta Knowles – Commissioner of Police

“We’ve had some string winds out here, and the ambers from the fires were blowing into the roots and started the fires to the other buildings and so unfortunately we lost four buildings tonight.”

Shanta Knowles – Commissioner of Police

“Water was not a challenge. We had water in our trucks, all six trucks that responded to this, along with the defence force, and we were pumping from the sea so we did not have a challenge with water, and we don’t have a challenge with water.”

Communications director in the Office of the Prime Minister, Latrae Rahming, told Our News prime minister Philip Davis was updated on the matter.

However, Victoria Court apartment resident believes law enforcement’s approach to the fire was wrong.

Resident at the Victoria Court Apartment Complex

“All happened because there was not enough support and the plan, the contingencies, the way that they were attacking he fires was not the way it should be. First, when it’s like that you have to access all the areas with children.”