Fire destroyed a house and variety shop in Plymouth, Tobago, on Monday night leaving a mother and her three children homeless.
According to reports, Mourice Glod, 32, who operates a variety store out of her home at Long Street, locked up her business around 9.45 pm.
Around 11 pm she received a call and was alerted that her house was on fire.
Neighbours formed a bucket brigade before the Fire Services arrived on the scene but they were unable to control the blaze.
The house was totally gutted. Damage have been estimated at $465,000.
The fire also spread to a nearby property owned by businessman Fitzroy “Stumpy” Phillips but fire officials were able to extinguish the blaze before extensive damage occurred. Damage is estimated at $20,000. No one was injured. The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained.
Glod told T&T Guardian it would be difficult to recover from the incident as everything she owned went up in the blaze.
She also said school supplies, books and uniforms for her three children — aged between 12, 10, and five years old — for the new school term were also lost in the fire.
Investigations are continuing
Anyone willing to assist the family can contact them at 747-0310 or 356-8613