A young St Thomas mother and her four-month-old baby were admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) yesterday in critical condition after suffering burns to parts of their bodies as they tried to escape the flames that destroyed their home in Vaucluse.
The SATURDAY SUN understands that Martina Gittens, 22, suffered burns to her face while her daughter, Zaria received burns to her back in the early morning fire.
One witness said that on his way home, "about 12:30 a.m. or so, I see all the lights on, every light was burning in the house."
"And by the time I get home, it was only minutes after that I smell the smoke and heard the fire trucks," he said.
Station Sargeant John Rollick at District D said the fire destroyed the three-bedroom timber and wall house owned by Martina's 43-year-old mother, Debra Gittens.
Martina's four other siblings and two other children also lived in the home. They all escaped the fire without injury.
Member of Parliament and friend of the family, Cynthia Forde, said both the mother and child were in hospital while the other family members were staying with relatives in Bank Hall, St Michael.
"It is so sad what happened to Martina and her baby, to this family. To go through this, is awful. They have lost everything in that fire and I believe that the house only just recently had repairs.
"I am happy though that the agencies have gotten in contact with the family and are working urgently to help them out," she said.
At about 12:30 yesterday afternoon, Martina and her daughter Zaria were still in surgery at the QEH, while over in St Thomas what was left of the Gittens home still smoked.
Police are investigating the fire. (TM)
Source: www.nationnews.com
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