First Citizens Bank customers in Princes Town will have to conduct business at other branches for some time, after a fire razed the first floor of the building early yesterday.
According to a report, a passersby contacted the Princes Town Fire Station around 4.30 am, alerting them that smoke was seen coming from the eastern side of the building along High Street. Within minutes, firefighters arrived, broke through the front door and were able to extinguish the blaze before it could spread to other parts of the building.
The fire prevention team, led by FSO Arjune and FF Hackett, determined that the blaze began in one of the cubicles on the first floor, but up until yesterday morning they were unable to say what caused it. The Crime Scene Unit was also on the scene dusting for fingerprints to determine whether foul play was involved.
FCB’s general manager of retail and commercial banking, Robin Lewis, said the bank is monitored remotely and their internal security contacted had them around 4.30 am to alert them of the fire. He said the damage was limited to the operations area.
Lewis noted that IT technicians did minor work on some computers on Saturday, but in an area away from where the fire began.
“There is significant damage on the inside, a lot of smoke and soot on the top floor. There was no damage or significant fire on the top floor. The operational side of the bank is essentially where we had the major issue, which is where we do transactions. Lending services and managers’ offices upstairs are intact,” Lewis told the T&T Guardian.
An estimated cost of the damage is yet to be determined, but Lewis said a lot of internal fittings will have to be replaced. Fire officers said the building remained structurally sound.
While the bank will be closed until repairs are done, their 30-plus employees will be redeployed to other branches in South Trinidad, Lewis said. He said the bank will issue a statement to customers shortly, but advised that they can visit other branches in Penal, Marabella, Gulf View and San Fernando.