ST. CROIX — H.H. Tire & Battery, a well-known and reputable business located at 61-B Castle Coakley, has been consumed by fire, leaving multiple persons out of work this morning, and a venerable operation incapacitated for the foreseeable future.
The blaze, which was raging as of 6:14 a.m. on Monday even as rain was falling — with VI Fire Service personnel working to disrupt it — thoroughly destroyed the building. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
The 911 emergency call center received notification of the incident at about 4:12 a.m. today from a concerned resident, who reported that smoke was coming from the building. VI Fire Service, upon learning of the incident, scrambled its personnel to the scene, where they could be seen working tireless to put out the blaze. The fire was so fierce that multiple firetrucks worked around the clock to extinguish it.
The heat of the fire could be felt at the entrance of Bates Trucking, which is located adjacent to H.H. Loud explosions — possibly coming from batteries and other combustible items — rocked the area as Fire Service personnel attempted to douse fire.
Police blocked the Queen Mary Highway (Centerline Road) from both directions enabling Fire Service personnel to work without interruption.
Started by Howard Hensley in 1964, H.H. Tire & Battery has been in operation for 52 years. According to a blurb on the company’s website, H&H was “built on the foundation of providing quality products and outstanding customer service for a reasonable price.” The firm has since grown to become the largest shop of its kind on the island.
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Tags: h&h tire and battery, st croix
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