This is what remains of the elegant Mariner Inn Restaurant and the adjacent kitchen area [Island Sun photo]

Fire Destroys Mooring Restaurant

By Angela Burns-Piper

The entire restaurant and bar and dining area at The Moorings Mariner Inn on Wickham's Cay 2 was completely destroyed by an early morning fire on Tuesday April 18th. The Island Sun understands that sometime shortly after midnight, security officers and guests heard an explosion coming from the area of the kitchen. Upon investigation, flames were seen coming from the area and the BVI Fire and Rescue Services Department were summoned to the scene of the incident. Station Officer William Penn said one fire engine responded in the first instance.

"Upon arrival, we met the bar and restaurant and the dining area engulfed in flames several feet in the air through the roof," he told the Island Sun. He said he immediately requested three additional fire engines, one from Road Town, one from West End and the other from the East End station. "Once the additional manpower and resources became available, our focus was to protect the adjacent buildings - the office and reception area." He said having minimized the risk of the fire spreading, the focus of the BVI Fire & Rescue Services Department turned to extinguishing the main fire, which was in the kitchen/bar/restaurant area. "Because of the intensity or size of the fire area, about 100 by 60 feet or more, the plan of action was to have the fire surrounded, that is to have water ejecting from four different points," Station Officer Penn explained. He said they achieved the objective after 1 a.m. and a while later, sometime after 2 o'clock, the message was sent that the fire was under control. "We feel that one of the challenges to our operations was the high prevailing wind conditions which aided the fire in spreading so rapidly; we do believe though, from the charred walls etc., that the fire could have been burning for some time," Mr. Penn surmised. At the time of the fire the restaurant had already closed for business. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Apart from the charred walls and the smoke and heat damage to the office/reception area, damage was also done to a neighbouring shop - Underwater Safaris, which lost most of its contents to the fire.

A joint investigation, between the BVI Fire and Rescue Services Department, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and the Electrical Inspectorate Division of government, is underway to determine the cause of the fire. The area has been cordoned off as a crime scene. Meantime, Station Officer William Penn also told The Island Sun that on Monday, the BVI Fire and Rescue Services Department received a report of a yacht on fire at the Village Cay Marina.

That fire was discovered in its early stages and the occupants were able to put out the fire using available fire extinguishers, before any major damage occurred. Mr. Penn said the Fire Services was dispatched to the scene to ascertain that the fire was quenched and to ensure that the risk to the occupants and the yacht was totally reversed. The owner of a house in Lower Meyer's/Cane Garden Bay area was not as fortunate. When fire engulfed the property on Friday, no one was at home to try and lessen the effects of that disaster. The Fire Officer told The Island Sun, the contents in that building were destroyed, however the building was still standing.