Fire at Point Fortin senior citizens home claims one life

AN early morning fire at the Senior Citizens Home, Techier Village, Point Fortin, has claimed the life of one of its residents.

He has been identified as Michael Cornum, 76.

Preliminary reports indicate that in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, residents and staff heard two loud explosions on the compound.

The home has twelve buildings with 24 apartments, each occupied by a resident.

Checks for the source of the explosion revealed that one of the apartments was on fire. Residents and others tried to control the flames from spreading before officers from the Point Fortin Fire Station arrived.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, Cornum’s charred remains were found in the apartment.

The body taken to the mortuary of the Point Fortin Hospital pending an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre.

Fire officers were expected to return to the scene on Tuesday to determine the cause of the fire.

Point Fortin police are continuing investigations.