The destruction from the Lower Estate fire last month was heart-wrenching. Eighteen vehicles were reduced to ash and twisted metal, and a transportation business built over decades was gutted in a matter of minutes.

But it could have been much worse.

We are greatly relieved that no one was injured and that the flames did not spread to the apartment buildings flanking the burned lot. Credit is due to the firefighters on the scene, who by all accounts did their best under difficult circumstances.

But the fire raised big red flags that should prompt serious reflection about the Virgin Islands’ ability to handle a major blaze — especially one in a dense residential area.

According to witness accounts confirmed by fire officials, responding crews arrived within minutes of the call.

Yet they were stalled because the nearest hydrant had been paved over during road resurfacing. As a result, firefighters had to wait for a water truck to arrive before they could mount a sustained attack on the flames.

That situation is unacceptable.

Hydrants are not decorative street furniture. They are critical pieces of life-saving infrastructure. To pave one over — whether through negligence, poor coordination or lack of oversight — is to court disaster.

In this case, the response delay quite likely meant the loss of 18 vehicles. Next time, it could cost lives.

Hydrants across the territory should be accessible, mapped, maintained and protected at all times. The government must now investigate and provide a full accounting to determine how this hydrant was covered, who signed off on the resurfacing, and what safeguards failed. Anyone responsible should be held accountable.

The concerns, unfortunately, do not end with blocked hydrants. Recent revelations from the Standing Finance Committee are similarly troubling.

During SFC proceedings late last year, legislators were told that the VI Fire and Rescue Service was operating with just 29 active officers out of an approved 70. As a result, firefighters were working double and triple shifts.

Legislators also heard that two of seven fire vehicles were not fully functional, and that the fire service currently has no ladder truck.

In a territory where multi-storey residential and commercial buildings are increasingly common, this news was sobering indeed.

Here again, the dedication of frontline officers is not in question. They are clearly doing more with less, often at great personal cost. But dedication cannot substitute for manpower, equipment and proper planning. Chronic understaffing and inadequate equipment place both firefighters and the public at risk.

Legislators were told last year that a new $550,000 fire tender is on the way, pending vetting, but a ladder truck would cost upwards of $1.2 million. These are not small sums. But firetrucks are not optional luxuries. They are the price of basic public safety.

If the territory can absorb the economic and social shock of losing an entire bus fleet — let alone the potential devastation of a residential fire with casualties — then it must also be able to prioritise investment in fire protection.

The Lower Estate blaze should be treated as an urgent warning. A full, transparent review is needed, covering hydrant management, inter-agency coordination, staffing levels, equipment needs and emergency response protocols. The findings should be made public, and corrective actions should follow swiftly.

Despite the carnage wrought by last month’s fire, the territory was fortunate. Next time may be different.