Firemen battle a huge fire which yesterday engulfed a section of the Wray and Nephew building on Spanish Town Road in Kingston. Up to late last night, it was still unclear what caused the blaze which started after 5:30 p.m. at a section of the building where empty rum barrels were being stored. The fire later spread to a warehouse where liquor was kept, leaving a pungent smell of the substance as several barrels were sent popping under the intense heat. Seven fire units from the York Park and Trench Town stations worked feverishly to put out the blaze. Prime Minister Bruce Golding was among several Cabinet ministers who went to the scene of the fire. In order to ease the congested traffic on Spanish Town Road, Transport Minister Mike Henry asked the operators of the toll highway to allow motorists free passage at the various toll booths. Last night, Information Minister Daryl Vaz said residents living nearby had been ordered to evacuate.

For pictures: http://go-jamaica.com/iphoto2/index.php?album=fire-at-wray-and-nephew

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- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer