A Warwick man died on Sunday after fire ripped through his single-story apartment.

Urban Ned Fleming Sr., 61, was killed in his Smiths Avenue home early on Sunday morning in one of three blazes across the Island that kept firefighters busy throughout the weekend, causing more than an estimated $150,000 of damage.

Mr. Fleming, a retired mason, was found to be already dead by firefighters after they entered the apartment to try and rescue him.

Fire Service spokesman Lt. Anthony Caisey said a total of five vehicles, based at the Port Royal Division, arrived at the address at around 2.30 a.m.

"When they got there they were advised that there was someone inside the house, which had smoke issuing from it.'' he continued, "Two firefighters entered with self-contained breathing apparatus to try and get him out.

Unfortunately, when they found the victim, he was already dead.'' Lt. Caisey explained that damage to the property amounted to about $50,000 and added that the cause of the fire was, as yet, undetermined.

Contacted yesterday afternoon, Mr. Fleming's immediate family were too upset to say anything.

But his brother-in-law Dennis Jones, did explain that he was a father of six and a grandfather.

Mr. Fleming's next door neighbours, both of whom asked not to be named, described him as "a hard worker'' and a "nice, polite guy''.

One woman, who had known him all her life, said: "He would always stop and say hello whenever he passed by. We never really spoke that much but ever since I can remember, he's always been out keeping the neighbourhood clean by sweeping the road.'' She added that she did not awake until after the fire had been put out.

Another man explained that although he was at the PHC Stadium when the fire broke, he could see the glow and the smoke all the way from there.

He added: "Mr. Fleming was a really good mason, as you can see, because he built his own house. He was also a good husband and father. Generally a good, hardworking man.'' Vehicles had rushed to his home from another incident on South Road, Southampton, where a fire had started in a cottage at Pillarville Guest House.

Lt. Caisey explained that the occupant of the cottage, Alan Pearman, escaped with only a minor foot injury, which he sustained while rushing outside after he awoke to the smell of smoke.

"Personnel attended that scene from Port Royal Fire Station and quickly extinguished the flames,'' Lt. Caisey said. "However the entire apartment was gutted and an estimated $80,000 of damage was caused.'' Warwick blaze takes life Property owners Vivian and Bernice Wilson, who live in a nearby house, said they were woken up while the fire was in full blaze.

They added: "We're just thankful that nobody got hurt in this.'' Mr. Wilson said: "I woke up to see flames coming out of the windows. But the Fire Department got here really quickly and had it under control soon after.'' He added that this gutted building was, unfortunately, not covered by insurance, but also said: "Thank God that it didn't spread''.

"It could have been much worse. It's going to cost me a lot of money but I guess these things just happen. This place will be boarded up and we'll just move on.'' Firemen also attended Grotto Bay Hotel in Hamilton Parish on Saturday afternoon after a storeroom full of computer hardware caught fire.

"Four personnel from the Clearwater station attended the scene at around 2.30 p.m. where they were directed to a storage room from which smoke was issuing,'' Lt. Caisey said.

"They entered with breathing apparatus and a hose and quickly extinguished the fire,'' he added.

Property damage caused by this blaze was estimated at around $50,000.

Lt. Caisey noted that the causes of both of these fires were currently undergoing investigation.