After a fire ripped through parts of Budget Meat Mart’s building on Bernard Road yesterday morning, the owners are left with tens of thousands of dollars worth of extensive damages.

All fire units were called to the scene after 9 yesterday morning, following reports that huge plumes of smoke were emanating from inside the store.

Approximately an hour and a half of officers tackling the fire, Fire Director and Chief Superintendent Walter Evans told reporters on the scene that the cause of the fire was not known at that time.

“Immediately all of the units in New Providence which included headquarters and the truck which is stationed at Cable Beach were called out to this fire. Additional fire-fighters were called in from the headquarters,” Mr. Evans said.

The fire was contained to the interior of the store.

“We do not have a probable cause at this stage, and an investigation will be launched,” Mr. Evans said.

Additionally, the chief superintendent expressed concerns that arose due to the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

“In regards to post Hurricane Matthew, we’ve had several calls where we’ve had a number of homes which were without power supply since the hurricane. Those persons who are still without power supply, we want to encourage them that if they’re going to use candles, to be careful,” he said.

“We’ve had several cases where a number of homes have been destroyed, and we’ve responded. We’re asking individuals if they’re using candles to make sure that they are not near clothing items; not near carpets, not near linen items. These items can easily burn.

“We’re asking individuals before they go to sleep, to make sure to blow out candles,” the fire chief pleaded.

He noted that having experienced enough devastation from the hurricane, residents must avoid compounding the problem.

“We’ve also had electrical fire calls as well. Persons who had water damage in their homes, we know that the Ministry of Public Works will be conducting the relevant inspections. However, we want to encourage all individuals, if you’ve had any degree of water on the inside of their homes, particularly near electrical sockets, to have those things evaluated before they are used,” he said.

According to the fire chief, so far three homes in the capital have been destroyed by fire in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.