Hurricane Season Now Active, Vialet Calls On D.P.N.R. To Order H.H. Tire And Battery To Cleanup Site Of Burned Facility

ST. CROIX — Senator Kurt Vialet on Thursday wrote a letter to Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner, Dawn Henry, urging the department’s leader to order H.H. Tire and Battery, which has since moved to a new location after its main facility was ruined by fire late last year, to cleanup the debris at the affected site as soon as possible.

In a release issued Friday, Mr. Vialet said he was concerned that the toxic debris had not been removed as of Friday. “We have entered the 2017 hurricane season and the probability of direct or indirect impacts from tropical storms and hurricanes are a great threat,” Mr. Vialet said.

He worried that should St. Croix be impacted by a storm, the toxic waste piled up at the Castle Coakley site could contaminate the air, water and land. “This could have damaging and long-lasting effects on the residents of the surrounding areas,” he said.

The second-term Democrat encouraged Ms. Henry to visit the site and ascertain the damage that has taken place, which would inform D.P.N.R.’s development of a mitigation plan with the owners that would ensure that the cleanup begins as soon as possible.

The company moved to what it’s calling a temporary site late December, located across from Junie’s Restaurant, at the east end of Hess Road where it meets South Shore Road.

“There are many people to thank for their support in helping us reopen our doors to the St. Croix community in a little less than a month. Our priority was to get our long time employees back to work so they could continue to support their families which was accomplished this past weekend. We are elated to be back in business and look forward to welcoming back our loyal customers,” said Kevin Hensley when announcing the grand opening of the temporary site.

The business has since resumed its normal operating hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

An all-consuming fire 

H.H. Tire and Battery was completely ruined by fire on November 28.

The building’s roof caved in; vehicles belonging to residents that stayed at the facility overnight for repairs were left with only their body frames; smoke from burned tires, batteries and other items letting off toxic plumes engulfed the skies and spread west, causing the closure of at least six schools.

Started by Howard Hensley in 1964, H.H. Tire & Battery had become a go-to location for vehicle maintenance. The company was “built on the foundation of providing quality products and outstanding customer service for a reasonable price,” reads the website. The firm had since grown to become the largest shop of its kind on the island.