BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - INFORMATION reaching SKNVibes indicates that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is looking into the cause of a fire which destroyed the building that housed the Venezuelan Embassy, while it has been determined that a small fire at the office which houses the office of the Organisation of American States (OAS) was deliberately set.
Both fires occurred with hours of each other.
Acting Fire Chief Everette O’Garro informed SKNVibes that at about 4:20 this morning (Jan. 5) members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services (Basseterre Station) responded to a report of a fire at Wigley Avenue, Fortlands.
Upon arrival at the scene, the unit discovered the building which houses the Venezuelan Embassy was completely engulfed in flames.
The officers sprang into action and after some effort the Basseterre Unit requested assistance which was provided by the Sandy Point unit.
The Fire Chief (Ag) informed that after a tiresome four-hour fight, the fire was eventually quenched, but the wooden and concrete one-storey structure and its contents were totally destroyed.
He said the cause of the fire is yet unknown but suspicious items found at the scene were brought to the attention of the CID and it has or would be undertaking investigations into the cause of the blaze.
About five hours prior, the Basseterre Unit of the Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the building that houses the office of the Organisation of American States on Horsford Road (in the vicinity of the War Memorial).
SKNVibes understands that the fire originated by a window at the side of the building and Fire Officers’ speedy reaction was enough to prevent it from causing any major damage to the building.
According to the Fire Chief (Ag), implements - which would be used to set a fire - were discovered at the scene and the Fire Department has determined that it was the work of an arsonist.
The Fire Officers came in for high praise from their Acting Fire Chief who told SKNVibes that they ought to be congratulated for their efficiency and swift action in preventing the fire at the OAS office from spreading.
