Radio station owner targeted by arsonist

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – The sound of shattering glass and shouting neighbours may have saved a Sandy Point family from being consumed by fire in the predawn hours of today (Aug. 29).

A.U. Brown, owner of Kyss FM radio station, told SKNVibes that he was awakened at about 3 a.m. by the toxic scent of the smoke which fogged his upstairs bedroom.

He said he hastened to rouse his sleeping family members and they exited the home.  Once outside, he said, was when he realised one of his vehicles parked in his garage was ablaze, with flames licking the side of the house above the garage.

“I immediately called the emergency number but they didn’t answer; it was only when my wife went to the Sandy Point Police Station that they came. The fire engine came about a half hour after and the police came 20 minutes after the Fire and Rescue,” Brown disclosed.

One neighbour said that he heard a loud “boom” and by the time he had arrived on the scene, the jeep was entirely engulfed in flames. He used his household fire extinguishers until the fire engine had arrived but by then “more than 60% of the fire had already been extinguished”.     ~~Adz:Right~~

“This is just a sad state of affairs; it was him [Brown] today but it may be me tomorrow. And, the thing is, you don’t even have to have any enemies because now people just do things without any particular reason. No longer should we take our safety for granted.”

Fire services personnel arrived on the scene and after about 15 minutes managed to extinguish the fire before too much damage was done to the home. The Suzuki Grand Vitara P 3119 jeep was completely gutted; however the two other vehicles parked nearby were unscathed.

The homeowner said he suspected that the jeep was where the fire originated and that it was intentionally set on fire.

“When they put the fire out, I realised that one of the front doors was open. It seemed as if somebody poured fuel inside the vehicle because the fire spread from inside the jeep. I also found a box of matches just outside the garage.”

He expressed disappointment with the entire incident, but said that he is pleased that his family and property are still safe.

“The good thing is that neither my family nor I was harmed, but it makes me feel uncomfortable that someone would be so malicious. But, I’m keeping strong. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep well knowing that my family, other two vehicles and my house may be at risk.”

He added that this is not the first time that he has been targeted by criminal-minded individuals. In 2001, his house was broken into and his vehicle stolen and destroyed. Seven years after, another jeep had also been destroyed.

Police and Fire Service officials told SKNVibes that a full investigation would be conducted to determine if indeed arson was involved and bring the perpetrator(s) to justice.