Intense Fire Consumes 3-Story House in Frenchtown

ST. THOMAS — A three-story house in French Town, St. Thomas was consumed by a fire Friday that grew intense quickly, completely destroying the second and third floors of the building.

Videos and pictures of the fire were shared on various social media platforms, most prominently WhatsApp.

According to a release issued by V.I.F.S., at about 2:24 p.m. Friday fire units from the Omar Brown Sr. Fire Station at Barbel Plaza were dispatched to a reported structural fire, with possible entrapments, in the Frenchtown community. Additional reports to the 911 call center supported and confirmed the initial call of a structural fire, escalating it to a three-alarm fire (an intense blaze).

Units and personnel from the Emile Berry Fire Station in Dorothea, Fortuna Fire Station and George Scott Fire Station in Tutu were also dispatched to assist with the response.

Upon arrival, a three-story wood and masonry house was observed with fire and smoke coming from the doors and windows of the top and middle floors. According to the release, firefighting units were strategically positioned on western, northern and southern sides, with two 1-1/2-inch quick-attack lines deployed from each side.