Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Goods estimated at millions of dollars went up in smoke yesterday morning as fire destroyed the Best Value Wholesale store on Evelyn Street, Ocho Rios, St Ann.

Firefighters who responded to the early-morning blaze were in for a rude awakening as a hydrant located a few metres from the burning building was not working.

This forced the firefighters to travel hundreds of metres away to another hydrant.

Undaunted by the challenge, the firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to a Total gas station next door, and to limit the damage to the Best Way Wholesale housed in the adjoining building.

The Sunday Gleaner understands that passers-by saw smoke coming from the building sometime after four Saturday morning and alerted the occupants, who were sleeping upstairs, before notifying the police at the nearby Ocho Rios station.

Out of control

By the time the fire units arrived, the blaze was out of control and the firemen were left to prevent the spread of the fire.

In the immediate aftermath of the blaze, Eva Demns-Blount, the store manager, told The Sunday Gleaner she could not estimate the value of the loss, but said the contents of the store were insured.

However, she was unsure if the building, which was rented, was insured.

Demns-Blount said the store had received its back-to-school stock a few weeks ago and the fire was a huge setback to the business.

The problem of non-functioning fire hydrants in St Ann came into sharp focus last year when fire destroyed the A&S Charley and Sons store on Main Street, Brown's Town, although a hydrant was located immediately in front the building.

Following that incident, a fire-hydrant repair programme was implemented in North West St Ann by the member of parliament for the constituency, Othneil Lawrence.