A devastating fire engulfed the dilapidated Calliaqua Police Station on Friday night, resulting in the complete collapse of its roof and extensive damage to the two-story structure. The inferno, which also threatened a neighboring bakery, required response from three fire tenders—including an emergency unit from Argyle International Airport—as large crowds gathered behind police cordons in the coastal town.
While the exact cause and full extent of the destruction remain undetermined at press time, preliminary assessments indicate the wooden flooring and primary structural elements suffered catastrophic damage. The incident occurred while the station remained operational, though no injuries were reported.
This tragedy follows recent parliamentary revelations by Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock, who just two months earlier had condemned the deplorable condition of police facilities nationwide. During January 29 budget debates, Leacock specifically highlighted the Calliaqua station’s termite-infested infrastructure, noting that “bed posts go through the floor” and describing working conditions as “squalor” that is “deplorable and depressing.”
Appointed following the New Democratic Party’s electoral victory on November 27—which ended 25 years of Unity Labour Party governance—Leacock had previously proposed relocating personnel to temporary facilities while pursuing new infrastructure solutions. The fire occurred merely two days before the minister’s scheduled diplomatic visit to Taiwan, where he intended to request vehicle donations to support crime-prevention initiatives.