Shrieks of sheer grief filled the air as two families were displaced by a fire of unknown origin, which completely gutted a duplex located off Molynes Road in St Andrew last night.

The eight-bedroom house at Glendale Avenue was destroyed by flames that swept through the entire structure sometime after 6:45 p.m.

York Park Fire Station personnel reported that the damage is estimated at $22.5 million. No injuries have been reported. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

When THE STAR arrived on the scene, scores of curious onlookers gathered as firefighters carried out cooling-down operations, while grief stricken displaced dwellers lamented on how they shall recover from the incident.

20 firefighters

Four fire units - one from Half-Way Tree, one from Trench Town, and two from York Park - with a team of 20 firefighters responded to the scene to fight the inferno which was brought under control at approximately 7:45 p.m.

"We were in the house, and we saw fire coming from the back." said a teary-eyed 11-year-old inhabitant, as she looked on in a daze.

"A di devil from hell light the house afire!" yelled another grief stricken occupant, who revealed that $400,000 left inside had been reduced to ashes.

Twelve persons, including a one-year-old baby, a five-year-old, and an 11-year-old, were displaced. According to the owner of the premises, the house was insured.