– quick response by fire service averts major blaze
Several incendiary devices, designed to cause fires, were found at a property belonging to Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, on Middle Street on Monday evening and led to the complete destruction of the top floor of the building.
The property is home to the Mid Towne Café, formally Sidewalk Café, and other businesses. It is being rented to businessman Lawrence ‘Larry’ Singh.
Speaking to the Village Voice, Attorney Hughes said that around 18:00 hours he was over at his office when he got a call that one of his properties was on fire. When he rushed over, there was smoke coming from two sides of the building and the fire service was actively working to contain the flames.
Eventually, they extinguished the flames but, by then, the top interior of the building was destroyed. When Hughes got to the scene he was informed that, upstairs, the doors were shut, beds were placed against the walls, and there were toilet paper holdings found with incendiary devices. There were set in at least four different locations.
It was after the fire service kicked in the door that they found the devices which likely led to the fire. “We found a whole set of toilet paper holdings in one room and several boxes and ashes,” he said. “All the doors, when the fire service got there, were locked. They couldn’t get in to the doors where there was an incendiary device. They had to kick the door down to get into the room.”
Mr. Singh was at another location at the time and also came to the scene when he heard about the fire. Hughes cannot yet quantify how much was lost due to the fire. The police are investigating the matter.
