By Kishawn Thomas

Scores of curious onlookers stood in awe on the night of Monday, June 28th as fire engulfed the two storey building that house the S.L. Horsford’s Credit Service located at the corner of West Independence Square and George Street, St. Kitts.

Information reaching our news desk indicated that smoke was seen emanating from the building at about 9:30 p.m.

Following the dissemination of the news, firefighters attached to the Basseterre Fire Department responded.

As the blaze engulfed the wooden building, thick black smoke could be seen filtering through the sky.

The Electricity Department were also called in on the scene to cut all power lines leading to the affected building.

One news agency reported of the volunteerism that was displayed by persons who attempted to assist the firefighters in whatever way they could have in order to contain the blaze. 

After an intense two hours the fire men were able to stabilize the blaze; however as the roof caved in the fire according to news sources, caved in causing the fire to spread to the lower concrete section of the building.

With assistance from the Electricity Department the blaze were brought under control.

While some of the onlookers applauded the firefighters for an excellent job from preventing the blaze from spreading to adjacent buildings, others believe that they need better trucks which would intern make the job easier.

Meantime, the Board of Directors of the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce official wrote to the management of S.L. Horsford & Company Ltd to express the organization’s sadness and concern at the news of Monday night’s fire.

The Chamber’s letter, noted sympathetically its sentimental attachment to the affected premises which served as the first official ‘home’ of the Chamber during the period 1983 – 2002.

The letter also noted that the Chamber’s Board could not forget that those offices had been provided to the private sector agency at significant concessionary rates during those 19 years, until the organisation was able to purchase and upgrade its own Secretarial on Horsford Road in Fortlands, Basseterre.

“The Chamber’s Board of Directors extends its support to the management and staff of S.L. Horsford as they embark on a recovery and rebuilding process while making adjustments to the day-to-day operations of the Credit Department,” the letter added.