Jamaica has seen a disturbing rise in the number and intensity of fires over the past seven years, with a marked escalation since 2023. These blazes have left a trail of devastation—costing businesses millions of dollars, destroying homes, and claiming precious lives, leaving families shattered in their wake.
On Wednesday, June 4, news broke of yet another massive blaze—this time at Rosh Manufacturing Company, an appliance store located along Spanish Town Road. Rosh is the latest in a growing list of businesses ravaged by fire.
Last November, Azan’s Supercentre Warehouse on Ashenheim Road suffered a similar fate, with massive losses reported. Pure Ice Factory saw approximately 90% of its assets destroyed in the fire as well. Just two months prior, a massive explosion at a Burger King location in New Kingston led to extensive damage to sections of the restaurant.
In 2022, a fire at Premier Plaza in Half-Way Tree caused millions of dollars in damage, disrupting commerce and affecting several shop owners. Last year’s incidents only deepened the crisis.
Markets, a crucial part of Jamaica’s informal economy, have also been severely impacted. Data shows that between June 2022 and June 2023, there were 18 recorded market fires. The Pearnel Charles Arcade experienced one of the most significant market fires in November 2023, which destroyed 95 shops, leaving dozens of vendors devastated.
November 2024 proved particularly catastrophic. That same month, a fire in Majesty Gardens displaced approximately 30 residents, many of whom were women and children. Families lost not only their homes but also their sense of security and stability.
Tragedy continued into the New Year. In January 2025, the country was gripped by heartbreak when a fire in Walkerswood, St Ann, claimed the lives of three young siblings: two-year-old Tavarno Mattis, three-year-old Tashawanie Mattis, and seven-year-old Tashana Mattis. The fire left the family and community in mourning.
According to official data, the toll in 2024 alone has been staggering: 27 people died in fires, including 12 children. Additionally, 79 individuals have been injured, and 1,600 lost their homes.
Bushfires have also added to the crisis. In a 2024 JIS report, Commissioner Stewart Beckford said the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) responded to 6,443 bushfire calls last year, compared to 3,518 in 2022.
This marks a significant increase, nearly doubling over the two-year period.
