A pre-dawn blaze tore through the upper floor of Usain Bolt’s flagship restaurant, Tracks and Records, in Montego Bay, leaving a multi‑million‑dollar investment scarred and the local community stunned. The fire, which erupted in the early hours of Saturday, gutted the dining area and bar of the two‑storey venue on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard and sent plumes of smoke into the Caribbean sky.
The alarm was raised at 1:48 a.m., and firefighters from the Monte Bay station raced to the scene to find flames pouring from the roof.
Acting Superintendent Oneil Kerr, the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s lead investigator for St James, said crews moved quickly to bring the inferno under control, preventing the blaze from spreading further through the building.
Although the restaurant was closed to the public, a handful of staff were on the lower level when the fire began. Miraculously, no injuries were reported. Investigators spent the morning combing through charred debris and interviewing employees to piece together what happened.
Early assessments point to substantial damage concentrated on the upper floor, the space that housed the dining room, bar, restrooms and an office. Kerr warned that a full evaluation by the property owners will be needed to determine the total cost, but the visible destruction suggests losses will be heavy.
While some local reports have linked the blaze to a power outage that followed Hurricane Melissa, authorities stressed that the cause remains under investigation. Kerr made clear that the brigade will base its conclusions on evidence rather than conjecture as the probe continues.
In the wake of the fire, the Jamaica Fire Brigade issued a stark safety advisory for homeowners and businesses restoring power after the hurricane.
Kerr urged property owners to have electrical systems inspected by certified electricians before reconnecting to the grid, warning that storm conditions can leave moisture in connections, loosen wiring, and create dangerous surges.
He also recommended the use of surge protectors and other safeguards to protect appliances and prevent further property loss as communities work to recover from the storm.The loss at Tracks and Records is a heavy blow to one of Jamaica’s most recognisable brands.
As investigators continue their work, the focus will turn to rebuilding and assessing the financial and emotional toll of the damage.
For now, the scene at Jimmy Cliff Boulevard stands as a stark reminder of how quickly disaster can strike — and how vital careful, professional checks are when power is restored after extreme weather.
