BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A midday fire was prevented from spreading and causing extensive damage, thanks to the quick-thinking of a number of civic-minded individuals.
According to reports reaching this publication, the blaze began at shortly before 12:00 p.m. yesterday (Feb. 7 )at the King Snack Chinese restaurant located in Sandy Point along the Island Main Road.
Station Officer (FSO) Joseph Audain, who is attached to the Sandy Point branch of the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services, explained that having received the report, a unit rushed to the scene, but by the time they got there the fire was mostly quenched.
SKNVibes understands that when persons in the area caught wind of the fire, a bucket brigade was formed, quickly taking action in extinguishing the fire – which, according to reports – could have spread if it were not quickly contained and doused.
FSO Audain explained that the department is happy for the assistance which the citizens provided, because when the call was received the unit had to rush from Dieppe Bay where it was dealing with another matter.
He said investigations into the Sandy Point matter revealed that an extractor fan located in the kitchen was the cause of the fire.
No injuries were reported to have resulted from the fire. However, the establishment’s kitchen, in which two employees were present, sustained some damage.
Commenting on the actions of the helpful villagers, the FSO expressed, “It is something we always encourage and we are commending them for their work and their swift action. We are grateful to them for their help and we encourage them to continue in this spirit.
“We also advise persons to exercise their civic-mindedness with caution. If you are unsure about certain things about the fire, we prefer that you leave it alone and wait until the authorities arrive.”
