Fifteen workers who have been displaced by a fire which destroyed Buyers Mart, Chaguanas, will not be sent home.

They will be absorbed into other branches until the building is rebuilt, owner Omardath Roopnarine said yesterday.

The department store at Market Street was gutted by fire on Sunday evening.

"I also intend to set up some tents on an empty piece of land which I have and I would open up some stalls. So no matter what happens the workers would not be out of a job," he said.

A watchman who arrived for work shortly before 6 p.m. saw smoke coming from an air-conditioning unit on the eastern side of the building, fire officers said.

He attempted to put out the fire with a garden hose but failed.

The man then ran to the nearby Chaguanas Police Station where he asked officers to contact the fire department.

Fire appliances from the Chaguanas Fire Station responded but the building was already engulfed.

The officers prevented the blaze from spreading to the adjoining First Citizens building.

Chaguanas Mayor Orlando Nagessar and Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport Rudranath Indarsingh were at the scene on Sunday.

"We were at a wedding nearby and I got a call that Chaguanas was burning down, so I rushed over to see what was happening. The entire building was destroyed, but I am thankful that the officers were able to contain the blaze. Everything inside the building was destroyed," Nagessar said.

When fire officers complained of low water pressure, Indarsingh contacted officials at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and gave instructions to open the valves.

"Within minutes the water pressure increased and the fire officers were able to do their jobs. I am pleased by the response of the fire and police officers," Nagessar added.

The building was estimated at $2.5 million, while stock was valued at $12 million.

Fire officers returned to the scene yesterday to continue investigations.