A rapidly spreading midday fire completely destroyed a two-bedroom wooden residence in Bishops Land, Two Mile Hill on Wednesday, leaving a nonagenarian and another local man hospitalized with burn injuries. The blaze erupted shortly after noon at the home of Noel Owen Marshall, who is in his nineties, and advanced with such intensity that despite prompt intervention, the structure was reduced to ashes.
The emergency response mobilized ten firefighters from the Bridgetown and Worthing stations, under the leadership of Divisional Fire Officer Tremell Perch and Station Officer Bourne. Utilizing two water tenders and a tanker, crews managed to contain the flames, though not before adjacent properties sustained damage.
In a remarkable display of communal solidarity, neighbors initiated a critical rescue operation as the situation developed. An alert resident, Dora, described transitioning from initial alarm to organized action, noting that ‘everybody worked together as one.’ Particular praise was directed at resident Andy Brown, who is credited with saving Marshall’s life by forcibly entering the burning building, dismantling a fence to reach the elderly occupant moments before the home was fully engulfed. ‘If it wasn’t for Andy, he would have burned in the house,’ Dora emphasized.
Following his extraction, Marshall received immediate medical attention from ambulance personnel on-site before being transferred to a medical facility. While he is reported to have suffered significant burns, the community remains hopeful for his recovery.
The fire’s impact extended to the neighboring house owned by Pamela Lashley, who arrived to find exterior damage including cracked windows, melted wiring, and compromised eaves. Despite the damage, she expressed profound gratitude that the outcome was not more severe, stating, ‘I am very glad. I give God thanks that it wasn’t anything worse.’ Lashley also conveyed her deep concern for Marshall, adding, ‘I am sorry for my neighbour… I am hoping and praying that he pulls through this.’
Authorities have confirmed that an investigation into the origin of the fire is currently ongoing.