Staff slam fire officers: 'Chaguanas warehouse could have been saved'

"IT could have been saved!" was the cry of two employees of a Chaguanas warehouse that was completely destroyed by fire on Monday.

The workers said they were displeased with the response from fire officials.

The warehouse, at Citrus Drive, Enterprise, Chaguanas, stocked goods for Alisha Marketing and Sumeds Ltd Poultry Equipment. Newsday understands it was a family business with an estimated total of 50 workers.

Fire officials were called on Monday night but nothing was saved after hours of trying to contain the blaze.

When Newsday visited on Tuesday morning, there was still heavy smoke coming out of the building. Some residents and nearby businesses said the smoke was affecting them.

Fire officials were assessing the scene and several employees looked on.

The owners and managers did not wish to speak to the media, but asked why a warehouse burning down was news.

Only two visibly and audibly angry workers wanted to speak to the media.

One man, who refused to identify himself, said he was at the back of the warehouse when the fire started.

He pointed at the fire officials and said, "Let me tell you something. You see those fellas there? Dem is a total failure. They could have saved that building in the back there. No fire was in that building. They could have saved it."

His co-worker Kenrick Jamal told Newsday, "That fire started from outside. We were there. We working there years now."

The men said the fire officials ran out of water. This was confirmed by chief fire officer Marlon Smith, who said in a radio interview that one of the firetrucks "malfunctioned."

He added that "at least millions of dollars" in stocks were lost.

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire.