Bounce Back Spirit: Calvin Beckles Determined to Rebuild After Fire Destroys Home in St James

A fire last evening robbed Calvin Beckles of the place he called home for more than 40 years, but he is determined to bounce back.

The blaze at Risk Road, St James, which started just before 6:30 p.m., also extensively damaged two other houses while another two were affected by the heat.

Fire officials said a total of ten persons were impacted by the fire.

When Barbados TODAY visited the scene on Thursday, Beckles, who lived with his female partner at the house, recounted that the fire bug struck while he was out doing a quick errand.

“When I come home, my lady friend tell me no bread ain’t here and to go get bread. I just turned around and get in the vehicle to go to the supermarket and get bread. When I come out of the supermarket, I see this big lotta blaze, so I said this blaze like it by me, and when I get here, then I discovered it was my house,” he said.

Beckles said it appeared that a fan in the house seemed to have caught fire.

“After she [girlfriend] saw the fan [on fire], she tried to hold the fan to take it outside but she didn’t succeed. She got a burn on her hand. I prefer the fan gone instead of she,” he said.

He said he received a call from St James Central MP Kerrie Symmonds after the blaze.

Beckles intends to get back on his feet, however, disclosing that his home was insured and that he would rebuild with the help of friends.

“I will take my time and get back there, I am a fighter; an unguarded moment, but I would get back there,” he declared.

Sixteen fire officers and three fire tenders from the Arch Hall, Bridgetown Port and Worthing stations responded to the blaze.