Oct. 7, 2002 – On the second day of Fire Prevention Week, fire crews responded to a backyard auto-garage fire in the residential community of Hannah's Rest, Frederiksted, where a resident was repairing a lawn mover.
Jacob Fleming said he was using an arc welder to repair a riding lawn mower. He told Deputy Fire Inspector Roberto Martinez that the mower had a full tank of gas, which was not leaking but possibly ignited the fumes and caused a flash fire.
The fire spread to engulf the two-bay galvanized structure, melting cable TV wires and burning an Acura Legend, a Land Rover and a 1964 Mustang.
Fleming estimated the cost of the mower at $1,000, but he could not anticipate the loss caused to his friend's garage and vehicles.
Property owner Julius St. Catherine said he had been working on the Land Rover earlier this morning. He said he had just bought the Acura from a cousin.
The garage was located about 40 feet away from a three-bedroom wooden home, which was spared from the blaze.
Mavis St. Catherine said, "I was at the bank when someone told me to 'Get home fast. There is a fire at your home!'"
Fleming and Pastor John Freeman thanked neighbors and the quick response of the fire department because the phone located in the garage had burned and the adjacent home was locked, so they had no way to call for help.
One 1,500-gallon water tanker, a 2,500-gallon tanker and four firefighters with Scott-packs on their backs showered 150-pounds of water pressure on the flames. The fire had a strong chemical smell that burned one firefighter's nose and eyes. One resident pulled his white T-shirt over his nose as he looked on.
According to the inspector's report, the mechanic was not licensed to conduct repairs at the residential site.
While firefighters tackled the blaze, various government agencies and community interest groups joined the V.I. Fire Service at the Fort Frederik Museum to launch the 2002 Fire Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 6-12.
Fire Service is asking the community to "Team Up For Fire Safety" in recognition of the 80th year of Fire Prevention Week. The national theme expresses the cooperative efforts that have taken place in the territory between various agencies.
In a press conference today, Fire Marshal Alexandro Rivera said the St. Croix District Fire Service was "placing its emphasis this year on the identification and elimination of fire hazards located in the town limits." He said those hazards include substandard construction and electrical installations, dilapidated buildings, excessive rubbish and debris, abandoned vehicles and overgrown vacant lots.
Fire Service is asking for the community's assistance in safety and beautification efforts.
Fire Inspector Marcellino Ventura said the department's goals for fire hazard elimination go hand-in-hand with the staff's concern for the beauty of the island.
Ventura said the department has identified that fire hazards exist in Christiansted and Frederiksted.
Rivera said the St. Croix Fire Service is working with other government agencies and civic organizations to carry out the elimination of fire hazards.
"We have teamed up with the Virgin Islands State Historical Preservation Office and the St. Croix Historical Preservation Commission to facilitate and increase communications," Rivera said. "The partnership has already produced positive results in reducing fire hazards, litter accumulation, and simultaneously preserving historical properties."
Lena Shulterbrandt, vice-president of Our Town Frederiksted, said she has personally walked the streets of Frederiksted to assist the department with the identification of buildings. "We want to get the vacant lots cleaned," she said, "but it does not seem to work as fast as we want. We can't find anyone to clean them."
Some property owners are elderly and do not have the means to conduct the repairs or clearing of their vacant lots. Other properties are in litigation or deeded to multiple owners.
Other agencies teaming up with Fire Service include the Police Department, Public Works, Division of Environmental Health, Human Services, St. Croix Landmarks Society and the St. Croix Foundation.
John Green, Public Works Litter Enforcement director, said the department has multiple roles in dealing with fire prevention. He said Fire Service requested Public Works' assistance in approaching the eradication of litter-strewn areas. "It seems that the laws that deal with hazards do not have the strength as our litter laws."
Green said his litter enforcement team identifies properties and then sends a notice to the owners. "This is having a great impact," Green said. He said 15 to 20 lots have been cleaned in the town of Christiansted over the past eight months. "Next year we are going to work in Frederiksted."
Fire Service is asking the community to be its eyes and ears. If you are aware of a property that poses a hazard, contact the Arson Prevention and Investigation Unit at 773-8050. And if you are in contact with an owner who is off-island, ask him or her to have someone remedy any hazards posed by structures or vacant lots.
President Woodrow Wilson issued the first proclamation for Fire Prevention Week in 1920 after the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871 that killed more than 250 people and destroyed 17,400 structures, leaving about 100,000 people homeless.
In the Virgin Islands, various fire codes were put in place in the 1700s and 1800s, according to Myron Jackson, director of the State Historic Preservation Commission. Jackson said the National Registered Districts in the Virgin Islands have been a major concern for preservationists in the territory.
Fire Prevention Week activities include open houses at all fire stations from Tuesday through Friday by appointment, radio and TV interviews, an Emergency Services parade Saturday at 5 p.m. along the waterfront on Strand Street in Frederiksted, followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.
Emergency Service organizations will have informational displays set up on Saturday, as well as food and music, and a blood drive will be conducted after the parade.
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