00:00We are here at Fafan Street in Arima at the tragic scene, the home of MP Lisa Morris-Julian,
00:07where a fire broke out yesterday claiming her life as well as that of her two children.
00:12Now we're told police officials arrived on the scene this morning at 4 o'clock and fire
00:17officials got here around 9 a.m.
00:20We also saw TNTEC police, now they came in just after 12 in the afternoon as investigations
00:26into what caused this blaze continue.
00:29Witnesses are left consoling each other with a burnt-out shell of what was once a family
00:33home, a reminder of a nightmarish reality.
00:36An autopsy has listed the cause of death of the trio as smoke inhalation and burns.
00:42Witnesses of the incident remain haunted by the screams of lives begging to be saved but
00:47could not.
00:48But why?
00:49Well, it's a question being asked by many.
00:52There are two fire hydrants on Fafan Street, one at the top and the other at the bottom,
00:58both in close proximity to the Morris-Julian home.
01:01Neither of these was in use on Monday, except for garbage collection.
01:06Whether they could have been used is disputable, based on the account of Shivon Matura, a resident
01:12of Fafan Street for the past 49 years.
01:28While we received other reports of that nature, they conflict with those from some residents
01:43who say there are no water issues.
01:45They did not want their faces or voices recorded.
01:49But there is another issue surrounding the fire service response.
01:53As the first fire appliance came from Tunapuna 11 minutes after receiving the information
01:58that assistance was needed.
02:00If you pass in front of the Arima fire station, you'll see fire tender 554, provided that
02:06it is not out responding to a situation.
02:09For those who are familiar with the area and the station, like manager in the office of
02:14the member of parliament for Dabbedy, Omera, Michael Simpson, the site is quite familiar.
02:19As far as you are aware, how many fire tenders are there at the Arima fire station?
02:25There's one.
02:26There's one.
02:27There's one.
02:28How long has that situation been that way?
02:31I don't know.
02:33Whoever does the math will work out what is the frequency and how many tenders do they
02:40need to be there.
02:41And there's usually one.
02:42The fire service association says it is a 2,000 gallon tender, which has been in service
02:48since 2007.
02:51On the fateful Monday morning at the Morris Julian home, less than about two blocks away
02:55from the station, the tender was responding to another fire.
02:59Apart from within the community, the shock and grief are resonating through the Dabbedy,
03:03Omera constituency.
03:06Simpson worked with Morris Julian since she was a counselor in the area and had seen her
03:10progress all the way up to MP and junior minister in the education ministry.
03:15She tells us she kept her colleagues and other state agencies on their toes as he refers
03:20to her as the embodiment of a real representative of the people.
03:24So she always had problems with WASA, with TNT, with ministry of works and need this
03:32fix and need that fix and picking up the phone and calling the various ministers to get relief.
03:39Morris Julian was unopposed as the People's National Movement candidate for that area
03:43in the upcoming 2025 general election.
03:47Simpson reveals that apart from her political life, she loved Carnival, and he shares a
03:51fond memory.
03:53Every single band in Areva wanted to have her in their band.
03:58She would get jerseys from everybody, and as they passed the stage, she would run around
04:02the stage, change her jersey, and jump in the next band.
04:08Everybody could have photos and say, Lisa Morris was in my band.
04:12The six-year-old son, Josiah Julian, as young as he was, has also left his mark on his teachers
04:18and schoolmates at Full of Grace Primary School, where he was in second year.
04:23The school's principal, Suzanne Hart, says he had a captivating smile and vibrant personality.
04:30He would just come up to you, hi, Mrs. Hart.
04:32He would come and he would hug you.
04:34He would hug all his friends, all his teachers.
04:36Hart tells us the boy was focused on making his mom proud, and he would sometimes introduce
04:41her to those he interacted with as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
04:46So he used to tell all his friends, my mommy is the PNM boss, my mommy is the PNM boss.
04:51I mean, Josiah was that type of child, loving, caring, nurturing.
04:55In the end, Morris Julian, in trying to save him and her 22-year-old daughter Zion's life,
05:02ventured back into the inferno and transcended this world with them.
05:07Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
05:11For more information, visit www.fema.gov
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