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DESPITE early efforts by employees and a brave fight by the Fire Service, the odds prevailed against them after 2 pm on December 11 as a blaze gutted Product Central Trinidad, Cipero Street, San Fernando.

Employees of The Christmas Store nearby, who did not want to be identified, said the fire was first noticed in the building’s upper level, prompting security to instruct everyone to evacuate.

Across the road is Ramasir’s Sales and Service, whose owner, Chan Ramasir, told Newsday she saw the fire when it just began and gave their fire extinguisher to Product Central’s security guard before ordering her workers to evacuate.