by CARLOS ATWELL
Misfortune is continuing to plague Sheldeen Bishop as fire has once again made her and her seven children homeless.
This latest chapter in Bishop's story involved an early morning blaze yesterday at second avenue, Thomas Gap, St Michael, which gutted the uninsured house given to her by the Urban Development Commission, in which she had been living for over a year.
Bishop, 35, was attending the Amazing Grace Seventh Day Adventist church on Deacons Main Road, St Michael, when she received the news.
"I was at church when a little girl came and told me. Everything is gone, I don't know what to do," she said.
Members of her church offered moral support and promised financial support. Head Deacon John Yearwood said they "would contact the minister as to take in a family of such size would not be easy".
Her woes began in 2002 when her squatters dwelling in Dash Valley, St George, also was lost to fire. Afterwards she was forced to stay with friends or people kind enough to help her get back on her feet.
At one time, she said she was told to "evacuate" one rented house by health inspectors because of a problem with vermin. At another she said the landlord told her to leave after she complained about the leaking roof.
That led her to her brother's home where she stayed for several months, but eventually had to leave. She then went to stay with an aunt who subsequently changed her mind.
Bishop was again highlighted in 2005 in a story by the DAILY NATION when it was shown she was living in a friend's shed. Shortly afterwards she was granted a home in Thomas Gap.
The fire also damaged the next door home of 49-year-old Marva Goodridge, who shares the house with her son.
"I was sitting in my window and smelled smoke. A little fella tell me fire, but by the time I came out the [Bishop's] house was blazing.
"All I could do was get some guys to help me get my things out and shut off the main switch," she said.
Two tenders and eight officers from Probyn Street under the command of Divisional Officer Junior Boyce responded to the 9:27 a.m call. He said one of the problems was crossing traffic to get to the fire, as well as the fact that they were not a lot of hydrants in the area.
No one was seriously injured, but paramedics treated cases of smoke inhalation. Investigations are continuing. |