Fire fighters battling flames at the Matser complex in Middle Region Saturday night. Photo by John Halley.
This Gromyko Wilson photo shows the burning Matser complex in Middle Region from another angle.
Matser complex
goes up in flames
~ Concerns raised about 911 emergency service, water availability ~
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarteners watched from as far as Philipsburg as the hillside complex at Gumbs Drive #21 in Middle Region, owned by the well-known Matser family, went up in flames Saturday around 7:30pm.
The tragedy has sparked concerns about problems with the functioning and/or manning of the 911 emergency hotline that reportedly contributed to the fire service arriving at the scene of the fire some 30 minutes after the alarm had been raised.
The tragedy has also raised serious concerns about the availability of fire hydrants and water for the efficient fighting of fires.
Police said Sunday that preliminary investigations indicated that a short circuit from an electrical dishwasher had resulted in the fire, but further investigations are being conducted by the Police Forensic Department and the Fire Department.
Hardly anything was saved from the complex owned by Paula Matser, who has been decorated with the Order of Oranje by Queen Beatrix, and years of memories of one of St. Maarten’s indigenous families have been destroyed.
The fire will also affect several children who were looking forward to going to the playschool located in the complex.
Limited or low water pressure in the Middle Region area, along with the fact that the most reliable fire hydrant was some 500 metres away, compounded the already difficult situation, resulting in private water truck service being secured to assist the Fire Department.
Fire Chief Winston Salomon said the Fire Department had done its best to save the complex. “The department responded with adequate resources once the fire alarm was raised, but the fire was already in an advanced stage by then,” he was quoted as saying in a Government Information Service (GIS) press release Sunday.
He said, “The initial call was placed with the police to 911. However, according to information we received, nobody picked up, although several attempts were made. I was called directly thereafter and I alerted the Fire Department and within four minutes fire trucks were on the scene.”
He said “Owners of structures (businesses and homes) and persons who witness a fire in progress [should] call the Fire Department immediately on emergency numbers 919 or 911 (Police).”
He said fire fighters on scene had experienced some challenges with water pressure and while GEBE had cut the water supply to domestic users in the area to increase water pressure, “fire fighters still had to contend with running a hose 500 metres up the hill to the house.”
He said, “The fire was brought under control by midnight and its cause is still being investigated.” Salomon said it was very important to alert the Fire Department right away when a fire was discovered.
According to United Telecommunication Services (UTS) management, the PBX system it installed at the Philipsburg police station continues to work perfectly, but people have to be there to answer the phones when they ring.
Police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson said a call had been received by police at 7:00pm indicating there was a fire at the Matser complex. Police patrols and the Fire Department were directed to that address immediately.
Henson said police had arrived, had seen the house on fire and redirected traffic while fire fighters started working. Henson said, “The Fire Department seems to have had some difficulty in getting the blaze put out.”
Several persons witnessed a private water truck arriving at the scene under police escort. Senior Fire Officer at the scene Marco Kaak said he had been the second person to arrive at the scene and had been able to see the fire even while driving on A.Th. Illidge Road towards the house. He had called in off-duty fire fighters and all other resources, but that was not enough, as their main problem became access to water.
The water in the trucks was depleted after 15 minutes, as expected, and getting additional water proved difficult. GEBE said 30 minutes would be needed to cut the water supply to residents and two hours later the water pressure to the hydrant was increased. The electricity supply was also cut to prevent further hazards.
He said that although there was a cistern at the back of the burning house, it had been inaccessible due to large flames. The department left after six hours and only a computer room on the bottom floor in the complex had been saved. The department was called again on Sunday when residents said they saw smoke coming from the rubble. Fire fighters went and inspected the property to ensure it did not re-ignite.
The same members of the Matser family suffered loss of property due to fire damage on September 11 some 12 years ago. However, this recent loss is devastating.
Family member Raymond Matser explained that he had left home around 7:00pm Saturday and had returned 30 minutes later after his sister-in-law called and said his mother’s veranda was on fire. When he went to look, he saw the veranda he shared with his mother engulfed in flames.
He quickly got his family out of the house and sent his sister-in-law to get the others out of their homes. Then he went to get the garden hose.
He said his family had called for assistance repeatedly and the first response had come about an hour later. That response didn’t help much, as there was no water. He said the Fire Department had gotten water 30 minutes later, but by then all they could do was damage control to prevent the fire from spreading. His home and those of his family had already been destroyed by then.
“We aren’t trying to say they don’t do good work, but if they had come with water when they arrived they could have saved something,” said Matser. He said no one had been able to save anything. Their loss is major, as his brother, a land surveyor, lost his equipment, his office and his home. All other residents lost their personal belongings.
Raymond Matser said that while the loss for the eight persons who lived in the complex was great, what hurt most was the impact of realising while sitting with friends on Sunday that after 43 years, he would never be able to go back home again.
Wherever his home and those of his wife, son, mother, brother, sister-in-law and her two children will be in the future, it will never be the same again.
In high spirits with a positive attitude, though, Matser said, “My mother has always instilled in us to never let anything get us down, so we will survive.”
Regarding the water problem Matser said “I am not even ready to talk about the failings of GEBE and the Government.” He said he had to worry about consoling his little son, who questioned on Sunday why his rabbit, which had been killed during the fire, was no longer there.
