FIRE DESTROYS PALM GROVE INN
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from March 1975.
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Thompson and Leading Fireman Martin Bodden, whom he alerted, along with others fought heroically and kept the blaze under control, confining it to one building, until Chief Fire Officer Kirkland Nixon, Detective Inspector Rudi Evans and other policemen arrived on the scene to give further assistance. Marie Ebanks proprieter, has estimated the damage to be not less than $100,000. More than half the building, particularly the wooden parts, has been destroyed. Fittings in the bar, restaurant and hotel have also been lost.
Mrs. Ebanks told THE CAYMANIAN COMPASS that she and her family were asleep about four o'clock on Saturday morning, when they were awakened by Thompson who drew the fire to their attention. They rushed out of bed and assisted the two firemen, Police, and neighbours in fighting the fire. Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Kirkland Nixon, said that Thompson acted promptly after discovering the fire, and called him, informed the Police as well and awakened the proprietors, who possibly could have been trapped if the fire had spread. The Fire Chief explained that after the last aircraft leaves Owen Roberts at night, one member of the Fire Service is kept on duty on standby for the purpose of making an alert if and when the necessity arises. According to the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Superintendent Derrick Tricker, the Police are investigating the cause of the fire and full extent of the damage. Mrs. Ebanks said that it was distressing to note that after the fire, there was an instance of looting, and she herself had seen people "Making Away" with bottles of liquor from the burned out.bar.
