The house fire in New Development, Soufriere.
The Soufriere Fire Station responded to two fires within two hours early this morning, Monday, Dec. 15. No one was injured.
Sub-officer Vincent Williams told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the station received the first call at 1:02 a.m. about a house fire in New Development. Two fire engines responded.
On arrival, the firefighters met a four-bedroom concrete structure completely engulfed in flames. Though eyewitnesses said several persons were in the house at the time of the fire, Williams said only one person, a woman, is known to live in the house, and the structure was unoccupied when the fire started, according to their investigations so far.
Williams said the cause of the fire is not yet known. He noted however that the building has no electricity.
He said while an assessment is still being carried out on the damages, the cost of the destruction could be in the region of $200,000.
While responding to the New Development fire, Williams told SNO that the station received another call, around 3:12 a.m., about an apartment on fire in Palmiste, Soufriere. As a result, one of the two engines battling the blaze in New Development was dispatched to Palmiste.
On arrival at the government-owned apartment building, the firemen were able to extinguish the blaze quickly.
Williams said the fire appeared to have started from the bedroom. He said a few items were destroyed. One person is known to occupy the apartment.
The cause of this fire is unknown at this time.