Probe done, but chief mum on cause of fire

The Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Service has finished investigating a fire that gutted a Road Town shoe store on Sept. 6, according to Chief Fire Officer Zebalon McLean.

The fire officer declined to comment on the investigation’s findings, but said VIFRS submitted a report to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.

The fire, which occurred at Hazem’s, was reported to the fire station at 1:52 a.m., and two fire trucks and eight fire officers responded to the scene within one minute.

Mr. McLean previously reported that the firefighters initially watered down the building from the outside, and then entered the store and “attacked” the fire from the interior.

Although the fire department responded quickly, Mr. McLean explained, the flames were intense and the building was severely damaged.

“The downstairs that houses the shoe store was pretty gutted,” he said. “I would describe that as a total loss.”

No injuries were reported, and nearby businesses were not damaged by the flames. 

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