VIFS Responds to Fire Engulfing 3-Story Building in St. John; Firefighters Sustain Minor Injuries

ST. JOHN — V.I. Fire Service crews on Sunday at about 9:48 p.m. responded to a structure fire in Estate Grunwald on St. John. According to a release issued Monday, six fire personnel and two units assigned to the Cruz Bay Fire Station initially responded to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found a three-story wooden structure fully engulfed in flames and promptly commenced firefighting operations. Within 20 minutes, four additional fire personnel from the Coral Bay Fire Station arrived on scene to assist the first arriving crews. Firefighters battled the blaze for a little over 14 hours. Enlisting the help of private water haulers, they were able to extinguish the fire using over 60,000 gallons of water and over 1,000 feet of hose. In total, two tankers, 1 pumper, and 1 rescue vehicle were deployed to the scene, according to the release. Five firefighters sustained minor injuries. They were treated by Firefighter/EMTs on the scene, and two of the five were transported to the M...