One of several water trucks destroyed by fire during the early-morning hours of Mon. June 20, 2022.
ST. THOMAS — Two incidents that occurred during the wee hours of Monday morning in St. Thomas resulted in five water trucks and one propane tank being destroyed by fire, the V.I. Police Department confirmed to the Consortium following an inquiry. The incidents are being investigated as arson, according to police spokesman Glen Dratte.
According to the 911 Emergency Call Center, the first call came in at about 2:07 a.m. from Hull Bay, where eyewitnesses reported seeing two water trucks and a propane tank on fire.
The second call came at about 2:27 a.m. from Tabor and Harmony where three water trucks were on fire, according to the Emergency Call Center.
The V.I. Fire Service responded to the fires and were seen working to contain them. Mr. Dratte told the Consortium that there were no injuries. According to Assistant V.I. Fire Service Director Antonio Stevens, the water trucks that were destroyed by fire in Tabor and Harmony are owned by D&D Water and Delivery, while those in Hull Bay are owned by Paradise Delivery.
Destroyed water trucks in one of two locations in St. Thomas. (Credit: Provided)
Mr. Stevens said the investigation into the incidents will be a collaborative effort between the Fire Service and the V.I.P.D. "We need to find out what's going on without implicating," he said, adding that the owners of both companies will be brought in for questioning.
Footage of the fires seen by the Consortium show several water trucks ablaze, with plumes of smoke billowing in the night sky in one location, while a closeup video shows the fire's ravaging of the water trucks.
