The V.I. Fire Service responded to an apartment fire in Sugar Estate at 7:09 p.m. Tuesday, then at around the same time Wednesday evening, about 7:25 p.m., dealt with a house fire in Estate Mariendahl.
Tuesday, two units and six firefighters responded to a fire in a two-story masonry building on 10th Street in Sugar Estate. Seeing smoke coming from an apartment, firefighters went in and found the stove, along with the cabinets in the immediate area on fire. Using 1 ½-inch attack lines, fire personnel extinguished the fire in about five minutes, according to a Fire Service release. No occupants or firefighters were injured. The kitchen area of the dwelling sustained heavy fire, smoke, and water damage. Four occupants were displaced and were referred to Red Cross personnel for assistance.
On Wednesday, nine firefighters from four units at two fire stations responded to a home in Estate Mariendahl. On arriving, they found a one story, masonry structure fully engulfed in flames. All occupants of the dwelling were already evacuated. They sprayed the house from two sides. Firefighters reportedly brought the fire under control in 15 minutes and completed all operations in three hours. One occupant was taken to Schneider Regional Medical Center for treatment for smoke inhalation and has since been released. Three occupants have been displaced.
The Arson Investigation and Prevention Unit continues to investigate the origin and cause of both fires. Fire Chief David Hodge commended the crews who responded to the fires stating, “Our personnel did an outstanding job in battling both fires. We are proud of their performance, but we do not lose sight of the fact that several members of our community were displaced as a result of the fires. We keep them in our thoughts during this difficult time,” he added.
