Fire ripped through a commercial building in Lower Gambles on Friday afternoon, destroying offices and critical supplies.

The blaze started around 12:45 pm. Soon after, crews from St. John’s, All Saints, Coolidge, and the former US base responded. Initially, firefighters from St. John’s arrived and found the building fully ablaze. They quickly began operations while calling for backup.

The structure, known as the Gambles Medical Center, housed several businesses. These included Chef World, law offices, and multiple medical practices. As a result, the fire caused major damage to equipment, files, and supplies.

Meanwhile, one dramatic moment stood out. Hanybal Yazigi, an oncologist, rushed into the smoke-filled building. He acted quickly to save chemotherapy drugs for his patients.

“I went inside to save the medication,” he said. Despite thick smoke, he managed to remove about 80 percent of the drugs. However, the roof soon began to collapse, forcing him to stop.

Although the conditions were dangerous, he pushed forward. “It was really rough,” he explained. Nevertheless, he saved enough medication to continue patient treatment.

Afterward, his practice restored phone lines and resumed contact with patients. In addition, colleagues offered office space to help continue care. This support helped ease the impact of the loss.

At the same time, Edda Hadeed expressed relief that no one was hurt. She said the strong support from the community brought comfort during the crisis.

Similarly, Sharon Cordner confirmed her office has closed temporarily. However, she remains available by email while planning next steps.

Furthermore, Alafea Stevens shared support for those affected. Meanwhile, building owner Bernard Wong called the situation sensitive and asked for privacy.

Importantly, no injuries were reported. However, the fire caused extensive damage across the facility.

Finally, the Fire Brigade has launched an investigation. Officials have not yet determined the cause.