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Inner-City Fire Leaves Families Homeless
posted (January 8, 2018)
On Friday night around 8:30, fire destroyed a house in Taylor's Alley. No lives were lost, but all of their belongings were ruined in the blaze. Today the fire department told us the cause of the fire and we spoke to some of the residents about what happened that night.

Sahar Vasquez, reporting
The two-story house on Taylors Alley that was once the living space of about 6 different tenants is now nothing but black ash. It was demolished on Friday night. No one was injured but the blaze was vicious. It brought down the old wooden structure in about five minutes.

Benisford Matura, Ops., Ofc - Fire Dept.
"Upon arrival, we observed a two-story wooden structure 47 by 43 was already engulfed in flames and part of it has already collapsed, so we went into a defensive firefighting to stop the fire from spreading. When we reached it was about 8 feet from it so we managed to save that structure. Only one of the walls got scratched. Because the structure collapsed when we got there. We just saved the other one."

But it was not electrical or arson. The fire department says it was human error.

Benisford Matura, Ops., Ofc - Fire Dept.
"The house was broken up into the room and six other adults were there with him. The investigation revealed that they had no power to the structure and so they used candles for means of light. That said they were using candles and someone left the candle unattended and so that is where the fire started."

Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"And the person, you don't know which one of them?"

Benisford Matura
"No, we don't because it is like they live a way where you just come in and come out."

Even though it is unclear who may have accidentally started the fire, what is clear is that the residents lost everything. The place they once called home for many years is nothing but rubble now. They are all thankful to have made it out but are still trying to come to terms with their massive loss.

Sahar Vasquez
"How did you escape?"

Bernadine Kelly, Resident
"I was upstairs in the house working. I heard them say fire so I tried to run downstairs to save some of my clothes but it was too late so I just walked out of the door and went outside."

"I lost everything. All my clothes. My bed. It was just a little room I was renting."

Russel Anthony, Resident
"Well I wasn't at home but I am usually at home. I had gone to check around the corner to take a little walk and when I reached the end the fire was on."

Sahar Vasquez
"When you got back and saw the fire did you try to save anything?"

Russel Anthony, Resident
"Well, could not really save anything. I wanted to save my Quash that died up there and my dogs."

"Well I could not even do anything. He told me about the dogs so I went through and tried to save one of the dogs. We are lucky we even saved this house here. It just went down."

The owner of the structure was Percival Blancaneux. In fact, he was not only the owner he too had a room in the complex. He worked hard to make sure his building was well-taken care and that his tenants were satisfied but now in the blink of an eye everything is gone.

Sahar Vasquez
"And your escape was?"

Percival Blancaneux, Resident/Owner of House
"Through the window, because when I saw the fire it was too late for me to come out because the back door was already on fire. The house was already in smoke. I had to feel my way to get to the window."

"I have to go to the doctor tomorrow because of all the smoke I inhaled. I am sick right now because of the smoke. I can't breathe too well right now either. I have asthma also."

"Everything went. Everything. We did not get a chance to save anything."

If you would like to assist the residents in any way you can call 632-9073.

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