A San Fernando businessman is praising his neighbours, firefighters, and police for their assistance after his wife was rescued after being trapped in their home during a fire on Monday.
Raakesh Rooplal said that around 9.30 am, while at work, he received a phone call saying that a car was on fire in his yard. He immediately called his wife, who told him that the car was ablaze and their house was smothered with smoke. She could not breathe and was trapped.
He then called emergency services, who told him they had already received a report and that the fire service was en route to his home.
As he neared the traffic light at the Cross Crossing intersection, which was red, a police vehicle approached and he explained to PC Sujeet Ramcharan his emergency.
Ramcharan, WPC Hamilton, Constables Brown and Deolal, of the Southern Division Road Enforcement Task Force, were on their way to conduct road traffic operations. The officers instead escorted him to his home. Fortunately, his wife was not hurt and did not require any medical attention. He believes that the quick action of his neighbours who first attempted to extinguish the blaze and the efforts of firefighters from the Mon Repos Fire Station possibly saved his wife’s life and prevented any damage to his home.
The car, a Tiida, was destroyed, but arson has been ruled out.
A grateful Rooplal said, “I would like to express thanks to my neighbours who were there before fire services and attempted to put the fire out. Of course, the fire services they responded very quickly and the police service they were of great assistance to me. I am very much appreciative of what it is they did. They exercised discretion and good judgment and took my situation into consideration because mind you, running a traffic light is breaking the law.”
Rooplal said he intends to send a letter to Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, ACP South/Central Wayne Mystar and the inspector in charge of the police station to which the officers are attached to show his appreciation.
