Homeowner Camille Haughton surveys the rubble of what used to be her room, which was destroyed by fire that gutted her Coffee Lane dwelling in Mount Salem, Montego Bay, yesterday. Paul Clarke photo

WESTERN BUREAU:

Fire investigators are probing the cause of a $1 million blaze that destroyed a house on Coffee Lane in Mount Salem, Montego Bay, on Wednesday morning, that left a 12-year-old boy in tears.

His back-to-school supplies for the 2012-2013 academic year went up in flames.

"I lost everything for back to school in the fire," sobbed O'Neil Haughton, who was making preparations for his first day at Cornwall College in September.

"My mother bought everything for school and now it just gone like that."

We lose plenty

His relative echoed similar sentiments.

"We lose plenty things, including beds, television sets, house fans, dresser and fridge. Everything burn up in the fire," said family member Jordain Lawson.

According to residents, the fire appeared to have started about 9:50 a.m. in a room on the upper floor of the two-storey house, and quickly spread.

Personnel from the Montego Freeport fire station responded at 10 a.m. with one unit.

Another fire victim told THE STAR that at the time of the blaze, the house was empty, as the occupants were out on errands.

"Luckily, it was empty. I came here to find the fire raging minutes after 10 a.m. but by then it was out of control. Then after that, the fire truck arrived," Richard Wint explained.

The dwelling was not insured.