Aunty Kay's house destroyed in Belmont fire

A 200-year-old house on the compound of Mike’s Car, Taxi, Maxi, Wrecking and Towing Services garage was burnt to the ground in Belmont in an early-morning fire on Sunday.

The house was once occupied by Kathleen Warner, a popular local actress and radio personality, known as Aunty Kay of the Aunty Kay Show, which ran on local radio from 1942-1985. She was also the mother-in-law of the late artist, dancer and musician Boscoe Holder. Warner died in December 1996.

The building, at the corner of Industry Lane, has even more history: according to nearby residents, king of Pop Michael Jackson, and American singer, songwriter Sam Cooke, among other celebrities, came there to be taken around the country in one of Mike’s Car Rental’s stylish Cadillacs.

Tony Reyes, one of the garage owners, said the fire had destroyed a historical landmark for the community.

He said the fire started around 9 am after a neighbour lit some debris in  at the back of the garage.

The fire got out of control and spread to a mango tree and then quickly moved to the house and garage. There were several cars there, and when the fire started to spread residents rushed to move as many cars as they could.

Two cars belonging to customers were destroyed, along with eight others. Another was slightly damaged.

The property on which the fire was lit was not damaged.

Reyes said he begged the neighbour to put out the fire that morning but his concerns were ignored and in under an hour, the house and garage were engulfed in flames.

When fire officers arrived  the building was already destroyed, along with the garage and  cars.

Residents in the area said the house and garage could have been saved if the area had water. One  said the area has gone almost two weeks without a constant supply.

Reyes told Newsday, “We were just hoping and praying the firetruck come quickly, because, at the time, all we could have done was watch the place burn with empty buckets in our hands.”

He said because of the house’s historic background and significance to the community, the family had been preserving what was remained of the two-century-old home.

“We maintained it because it historic and we didn’t want to tear it down.”

Fire officials told Newsday the single-storey building was valued at $700,000. An investigation confirmed the fire was caused by the burning debris next door.

Police are continuing investigations.