WAPA's Randolph Harley Powerplant in St. Thomas, USVI. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM.
ST. THOMAS — A fire broke out just after 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday inside the compressor room of the V.I. Water and Power Authority’s garage at the Randolph Harley Power Plant in St. Thomas, prompting an immediate evacuation of the facility.
The blaze was confined to an aging air compressor unit and was successfully contained within the compressor room, thanks to the activation of the facility’s built-in firewall systems, according to WAPA. The incident did not result in any reported injuries or service disruptions.
Emergency protocols were immediately enacted. All personnel at the facility were safely evacuated and accounted for. WAPA notified 911 and Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS) responded to extinguish the fire and conduct a full inspection of the premises before allowing re-entry.
The authority says its safety department, along with emergency responders, is investigating the cause of the fire and a complete damage assessment is currently underway.
WAPA’s Chief Administrative Officer Anthony D. Thomas noted, “We are incredibly grateful that all employees are safe and that our emergency systems and teams responded swiftly and professionally.”
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