The Antigua and Barbuda Fire Department is appealing to the public for information as it investigates a fire that destroyed a building on Old Parham Road in the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to Antigua News Room, the blaze consumed the structure — located opposite the M&M Service Station — shortly after 1 a.m.
Fire Department Public Relations Officer Inspector Lester Bagot said the St. John's Fire Station received a report at approximately 1:07 a.m. that the building was on fire. Three fire tenders responded to the emergency: No. 19 from the St. John's Fire Station, No. 21 from the Coolidge Fire Station, and No. 18 from the All Saints Fire Station.
Firefighters arrived to find the approximately 40-by-50-foot building fully engulfed in flames. Crews launched an immediate firefighting operation, drawing on water from the responding tenders in an effort to contain and extinguish the blaze.
Despite their efforts, the building and all of its contents were destroyed. No injuries were reported.
Bagot noted that the structure was undergoing repairs at the time of the fire. The department has since launched a formal investigation into the origin and cause of the blaze.
Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area, or who holds information that could assist investigators, to contact the Antigua and Barbuda Fire Department or the Police.
