Business operators making desperate attempts to save their property during yesterday's fire at a 24-shop building on Strand Street in

WESTERN BUREAU: Over 20 small businesses went up in flames in downtown Montego Bay when fire gutted The China Doll building on Strand Street, near the square.

In what has been described as Montego Bay's worst fire this year, residents were alerted to the blaze after thick black smoke was seen gushing from the building, followed by bright orange flames that rivalled the afternoon sun.

Police and fire-fighters were quick on the scene, preventing any looting. The thick crowd blocked off the intersection of Strand and Market Streets as people jockeyed to view the spectacle of business operators rescuing their goods.

Three units from the Barnett Street Fire Department got the blaze under control as store owners rescued what goods they could.

The building, owned by MoBay businessman Robert Lee, housed a record shop - one of three of the estimated 24 shops that escaped fire but not water damage - beauty supplies and clothing stores, and the China Doll pastry shop.

Eight gas cylinders from the pastry shop were evacuated from the burning building, averting a more potentially serious disaster. Mr. Lee, who was on the scene, refused to speak with the press on the building's worth or whether it was insured.

Neither the police, fire-fighters nor business operators could say how the fire started, but confirmed that it all began inside a shop upstairs the two-storey building