In the first incident, which police say happened at 9:20 pm on Thursday, a six-room single story stucco building on Woods Alley just off Market Street was engulfed in flames.
Reports indicate that fire-fighters were able to extinguish the blaze but not before the building was destroyed. Police say only one resident was hurt in the fire.
“A 51-year-old man, who is believed to be the owner of the building, received minor injuries and was taken to hospital where he is currently being treated,” said Inspector Walter Evans, press liaison officer for the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
According to press liaison officer Walter Evans, the second fire occurred just 30 minutes later. He told the Guardian that officers responded to a ‘similar incident’ in the Church Hill Subdivision off Soldier Road. At the scene a five room single storey structure was on fire.
Insp Evans added that five children ( three girls and two boys) ranging from ages two months to six-years-old were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. They have all since been treated and discharged.
In other crime news a 31-year-old man is in police custody after being arrested early yesterday morning for possession of an illegal firearm.
Officers from the Central Detective Unit were reportedly in the East Street area near Jail Alley around 3 am when they noticed a dark male with an apparent bulge at his waist.
Police attempted to search the individual and a struggle ensued. However officers found a .45 handgun with two live rounds. The suspect is a resident of Coconut Grove.
In a separate incident this past Wednesday Police officers in the capital discovered several ‘live rounds’ of ammunition hidden in bushes near Market Street on Wednesday. According to police officials, the discovery was made just after 2 pm.
“Officers from the Central Detective Unit were on patrol in the McQuay Street area just off Market street when they found a tennis shoe in a bushy area,” said Insp Evans. “In the shoe they found 33 rounds of ammunition for a handgun and eight rounds for a high- powered rifle.”
He added that the high-powered ammunition is used for the AK 47 assault rifle.
No suspects have been arrested in connection with the finding but officers say active investigations are continuing.
By: JASMIN BONIMY, The Nassau Guardian
