A fire that broke out early Wednesday morning near Blackbeard’s Castle Apartments in St. Thomas sent thick smoke billowing across Charlotte Amalie and prompted a full-scale response from Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS).
The blaze began at approximately 5:00 a.m. on September 10. Residents in the area captured video just after 7:00 a.m. showing the structure consumed in flames as heavy smoke poured from the hillside, visible from multiple points across town.
[Watch: Blaze at Blackbeard's Castle Apartments Videos 1 & 2]
Despite the scale of the fire, VIFEMS did not issue a public notification until 9:49 a.m. At the time, officials confirmed the incident was still ongoing, with crews working actively at the scene and urging the public to exercise caution in the area.
Firefighters arriving on scene encountered heavy smoke and flames and called in a full response from all companies. The department confirmed that, as of now, no injuries have been reported.
VIFEMS said additional updates will be released as more information becomes available and once the fire scene has been cleared.
