1 week Ago By Davion
The fire that gutted approximately 20 vehicles at Tortola Auto Group (TAG) on the morning of Tuesday, October 15, has been confirmed as an act of arson, according to Chief Fire Officer Zebalon McLean. Speaking to BVI News on Wednesday, Chief McLean explained that the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services completed their investigation and determined that the fire was not accidental. “We were not able to ascertain what was used to start the fire,” McLean stated.
“If we had been able to get some samples and then match that to the colour of the plate, then we would have been able to.” He added that by the time the fire department arrived on the scene, the substance used to ignite the fire had already burned away. The investigation focused on fire patterns and the intensity of the flames, which ruled out natural causes.
“What we do is we look at the fire pattern and we look at the intensity of the flames, then of course, we have to look at precedent,” McLean explained. He described examples of natural fire conditions, such as engines left running or flammable substances being exposed to prolonged heat. “Then we have no catalyst, no substance, and no materials, but all of a sudden something happened — it could not have happened naturally,” he said.
While the exact substance used to start the fire remains unknown, McLean expressed confidence that the perpetrators could still be identified. “For one thing, a lot of people don’t realize that there are a lot more cameras set up in the BVI around businesses than there have been in the past,” he noted. He also cited the possibility of eyewitness accounts or personal items left behind by the culprits.
TAG Director Shan Mohamed, when contacted by BVI News , confirmed he already suspected arson but declined to provide further comment. He previously stated that the vehicles were insured, ensuring minimal disruption to the business. He estimated the fire began around 2:30 a.
m. and praised the Fire and Rescue Services for their swift response, as well as TAG staff who helped save numerous vehicles. The matter has now been handed over to the police for further investigation.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Name (required) Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).
getTime() );.
