Two security guards who were on duty at the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre when a fire killed seven girls at the facility in May told a commission of enquiry yesterday that they had not been given training to handle potential escapes at the St Ann institution.

The security guards also said they were not aware of what to do in the event of a fire.

During the hearing, which started yesterday at the Council of Voluntary Social Services in Kingston, the two witnesses were cross-examined about what took place on the day of the incident.

Quizzed by Hugh Salmon, divisional director in the Attorney General's Department, the first witness said she was not aware of the presence of any fire extinguishers at the correctional institution and was never engaged in any fire drills on the property, or during her training. She also maintained that she did not see any of the wards with matches, during the day, which could have been used to start a fire.

Unusually quiet

She explained that she went on duty and the girls were unusually quiet as she patrolled the area. This prompted her to look through a window where she saw about six girls sitting on a bed. When they saw her, they pulled a makeshift curtain and chided her for watching them. However, knowing this was not their normal behaviour, she said she went to Hortense Higgins, the correctional officer in charge, made a report, and was told to do regular five-minute checks as the girls might try to cut the grilles.

The second witness reported that she did not know of any fire extinguishers on the property and, while she had participated in fire drills during her training as a security guard, she never engaged in any of these activities while at Armadale.

Yesterday, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, who represented the Office of the Children's Advocate, sought to determine whether the security guards had received reports of a potential breakout before going on duty. She was, however, told that they received those reports after they started working on the day in question.

Police called in

One witness said that when the wards began kicking out windows, Higgins made a call to the Alexandria police and a male and female officer came to the facility to assist with the situation.

The male officer reportedly left the facility and returned with an army green instrument that he later threw into the building.

The witness said it was after the instrument was thrown into the building that she saw smoke and then fire was seen coming from the facility.

The security guards said the keys to the door of the facility were not present when the fire started and the girls were fighting to get out.

The enquiry is scheduled to resume today at 10 a.m.

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com