14-y-o dies, brother burned over 80% in Spanish Town house fire

A quiet Wednesday afternoon turned into a nightmare in St John's Garden, Spanish Town, when a raging house fire claimed the life of a 14-year-old girl and left her brother fighting for his life.

Dead is Gabriella Wright, whose charred remains were found inside the gutted family home after firefighters brought the blaze under control.

According to the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the alarm was raised about 4:40 p.m., but by the time units arrived, the five-bedroom house was already fully engulfed in flames.

Divisional Commander for St Catherine, Superintendent Dennis Lyons, said early reports indicated that one person had already been rushed to hospital before firefighters reached the scene.

That victim, identified as Gabriella's older brother, reportedly suffered burns to about 80 per cent of his body and remains in serious condition.

Firefighters battled the intense blaze before carrying out cooling-down operations, during which the heartbreaking discovery of the teen's body was made in a rear bedroom.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, and investigators are now working to piece together what led to the deadly inferno.

- Ruddy Mathison

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