In a devastating turn of events, Roger Mahon, a 63-year-old sanitation worker, faced the complete destruction of his home just two days before his scheduled retirement from the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA). The fire erupted Wednesday evening at his Proute Road residence in My Lord’s Hill, St Michael, reducing his lifelong home to ashes.
Mahon recounted receiving a frantic call from his son while he was briefly away from the property. Returning immediately, he encountered an overwhelming blaze with three fire trucks and multiple police vehicles already on scene. The lifelong resident expressed utter disbelief at the scene that greeted him.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have originated from a toaster oven left operating with its timer engaged—a common practice for Mahon who stated this was the first incident of its kind. The intensity of the conflagration prevented salvage of any personal belongings or household items.
Despite losing everything, Mahon expressed gratitude that adjacent properties sustained only minor damage. Divisional Officer Tremelle Perch confirmed the fire response involved three water tenders from Bridgetown and Barbados Port fire stations under the command of multiple officers who successfully contained the blaze.
The incident has left Mahon, who lives alone and manages diabetes, without essential medication and too distressed to eat. Both major political parties have pledged support, with candidates Trevor Prescod (Barbados Labour Party) and Ensley Granger (Democratic Labour Party) offering assistance for rebuilding efforts.
Neighbor Lionel Brewster, 84, described the event as terrifyingly unexpected, noting his property suffered only minor exterior damage including cracked glass panes and some board damage. A vehicle parked between residences sustained damage to its rear windshield and roof structure.