Firefighters, suspended in the Simon snorkel above the Wilkins' Furniture Establishment and Lees Chemical Outlet on Princess Street in downtown Kingston, work feverishly to put out a fire on the second floor of the businessplace yesterday. There were no reports of injury. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Hearing-impaired George Wilkins briskly swept out water filtered with charred wood from his family-owned Wilkins' Furniture Establishment and Lees Chemical Outlet on Princess Street, downtown Kingston, as the businessplace was razed by fire yesterday morning.

The entire top floor of the establishment, which mostly sells furniture and household chemicals, was completely gutted by fire, leaving the building bare to the glaring Saturday sun.

Damage estimated at $10m

The fire service has estimated damage at $10 million and it is not known if the building was insured.

Units from the York Park, Trench Town, Rollington and Spanish Town fire brigades had to be called on to extinguish the blaze.

Luckily, the fire had not reached the next-door lace and furniture wholesale that is also owned by another Wilkins family member.

- Shelly Thompson