A man runs as firemen prepare to fight this house fire at the corner of East and Beeston streets in Kingston yesterday. - Ian Allen

Homosexual men, believed to be involved in a heated altercation, are said to be responsible for the massive fire which yesterday gutted a board structure along East Street in Kingston.

More than 20 persons squatting in the building were left homeless. Some residents managed to save a few household items.

Whether the building was insured or the estimated cost of the damage is not known.

One of the more than 20 residents of the dwelling, Charmaine Burch, said she woke up to what sounded like stones being flung against zinc.

heated fight

She said the men responsible for the fire were homosexuals who were involved in a heated fight at the rear of the premises, which then resulted in the building being set ablaze.

"Same one dem from New Kingston. Mi come out and turn to, and seh to him a waah gwaan inna de yard. Him say he didn't know. Mi come out and look and see mi room up in a smoke," said Burch, who lost everything including money and school items for her four children.

The chaos that emerged saw residents scrambling to remove what little they could, others armed with stones were seen chasing some men further along East Street.

Police at the scene said one of the men responsible was detained at the Central Police Station.