Man rescues spouse, brother from fire

A 65-year-old security guard yesterday rescued his spouse and brother from a burning house on Hitchen Street in Allman Town, central Kingston.

When the mid-afternoon fire gutted two dwelling houses, Basil Gordon said his routine responsibility of caring for his family members - who both have limited mobility - became his only priority, as he was forced to rush them to safety. Gordon stood across the street watching firefighters from the York Park and Rollington Town fire stations battle the blaze. Despite the loss, he said he was grateful that he was able to save his relatives.

"Mi just hear 'Fire, Fire', and mi wake up, but my people them sick and them can't really walk too tough. So mi have to grab them and take them out. Mi couldn't save nothing because fi dem life come first, that matter," Gordon told THE STAR, his eyes filled with pain.

As he turned his attention to the ambulance where his relatives were seated, Gordon exhaled heavily.

"I don't even know what I'm going to do with them tonight," he said. "One of them can hardly walk because a fire truck knocked him down back in 2001, and he never got any compensation, and my common-law wife just had heart surgery."

Gordon explained that his brother, Willis Gordon, was in a back room when the fire broke out.

"Him can walk, but not fast enough for that type of fire, so mi throw him pon mi back and drag him out," he said.

Gordon told THE STAR that he was asleep at the time, preparing for his night shift, when the fire broke out.

"Mi couldn't even save my work clothes," Gordon said. "Just the clothes I have on now. Mi phone, TV, two 60-inch TVs, beds, fridge everything gone."

Despite the massive losses, Gordon's greatest concern is the well-being of his family.

"Mi feel weak, but the biggest problem is that mi have two sick people who can't really walk, and mi have no help now. It just terrible, terrible," he said. Gordon said he is uncertain where he will house his relatives.

"Wa mi go do with dem? At least mi work nights, but we just paid $1 million for my common-law wife's surgery, and now wi need help again," he said.

Now, he fears that assistance may not come this time around.

"It rough. Wi haffi start all over. Dem can't work, so it's just me and my son, but him have him own family fi take care of. Right now, things just rough," Gordon said, holding his head.

His son, 43 year-old Glenroy Gordon, said he was only able to save his phone, which was beside him while he slept. He added that he attempted to put out the fire but was unsuccessful.

"I tried to help, but nothing mi do work. Mi couldn't do anything, so we just wait until the firemen come."

Glenroy said he was unable to salvage any belongings and does not know when rebuilding will be possible.

"Mi just don't know. Mi ago work with whatever come. It was either save something or save my life, and mi choose my life," he said.

The blaze destroyed two dwellings comprising five rooms and left approximately eight people displaced.