A massive fire tore through a two-storey commercial building on Wehner Road Wednesday afternoon, destroying the structure and triggering several explosions. According to Antigua News Room, five fire tenders and multiple emergency crews were deployed to the scene.
The building housed Vince's Hardware Store and a restaurant on the ground floor. People were reportedly present on the upper floor when the blaze broke out, but all occupants escaped safely — some managing to retrieve important documents and personal belongings before the flames spread.
Firefighters faced a significant logistical challenge during their response. As reported by Antigua News Room, an earlier island-wide power outage had affected nearby fire hydrants, forcing crews to make repeated trips to alternative water sources as they worked for hours to contain the blaze.
Firefighters remained on scene into the evening. Investigations into the cause of the fire were ongoing.
