ST. CROIXC — Wild fires on Wednesday afternoon engulfed the south shore of St. Croix, according to eyewitnesses, including a Consortium reporter. Firefighters worked to contain the various fires, but strong winds impeded swift progress.
According to police, at about 4:00 p.m. the first responders had quenched most of the burning — but not before smoke billowed and hovered over many parts of the island.
The wildfires have been a problem for the past few months. Days earlier, a blaze affected the beachside of the south shore, leaving once semi-green bushes blackened, with ashes on the ground.
About a month earlier, the mountains near Point Udall on the east end of the island were blackened after a blaze tore through bushes and trees. Firefighters have been able to contain the fires, but the work becomes difficult with strong winds.
It’s for this reason that the Virgin Islands Fire Service issued a burn ban last week. The ban, which prohibits all outdoor burning, was issued due to dry weather conditions, which have increased the risk for brush fires.
While most of the fires have burned away from homes, yesterday’s wild fires on the south shore threatened a lone house atop a hill as the wind pushed westward.
Tags: fires
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