Fire officials have launched an investigation into a major blaze that destroyed a two-storey building on Wehner Road on Wednesday afternoon, according to Antigua.news. The fire forced occupants to flee and triggered a large-scale emergency response.
Residents reported hearing popping sounds before noticing smoke rising from a nearby generator, shortly after an island-wide power outage earlier in the day. Several fire tenders were dispatched to the scene as crews battled for hours to bring the blaze under control.
The building reportedly housed Vince's Hardware Store on the lower level, along with a restaurant. People were believed to be upstairs when the fire broke out, though all those inside managed to escape safely — reportedly taking important documents and personal belongings with them before the flames intensified.
By approximately 5 p.m., the number of fire tenders at the scene had grown to five as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze. Emergency crews faced additional challenges due to limited water supplies. The earlier power outage had affected nearby fire hydrants, forcing crews to make repeated trips to alternative water sources.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions during the fire, including what was believed to be a gas-related blast.
Firefighters remained on the scene late into the evening as investigations into the cause of the fire continued.
