A fire erupted at the building which houses Solomon’s Food Store and Cost Right located on Old Trail Road on Monday. The fire was also near the Hyacinth Stuart Building which is to be the new home of the Department of Labour and other government agencies.

Minister of Labour and the Public Service, the Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle was on the scene. She told reporters the Department of Labour was close to moving into the new offices. “We have has furniture installed and there are some files that are in the building but fortunately there are no staff that occupied the building. Those staff that were present were on our final walk through this morning in preparation for moving and that was about ten persons. And of course, they were able to evacuate safely,” she said.

According to Commissioner of Police, Shanta Knowles, the source of the fire was not the building housing the government offices but started in the generator room at Solomon’s Food Store. She also informed that three officers received minor injuries in the line of duty.

An electrician working with the company contracted to carry out works at the Hyacinth Stuart Building recounted how he learned of the fire. Mr. St. Louis said, “we left the building and we walked on the side of the building. We saw the generator was on fire, red hot fire. We don’t know what will happen at any day but dealing with construction and dealing with electrical works, things like that will occur.”

A fire truck from the Airport Authority was used to augment the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s fleet of trucks on scene. Commissioner Knowles spoke of the need to increase the resources of the Fire Branch. Flanked by Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe and other She said, “my minister stands here with me and he assures me that the government is working with me to acquire those vehicle as soon as possible.”