St. Thomas fire and police investigating first-floor blaze at apartment building

An investigation is underway after a fire broke out in a ground floor unit of a St. Thomas apartment building.

St. Thomas fire investigators are looking into the cause of a blaze in a ground-floor apartment early Tuesday morning.

Just after 4 a.m. multiple 911 calls came in regarding a fire at 200 Chestnut St.

“When cruisers arrived, there was smoke coming out of the first story unit,” said Chief Fire Prevention Officer, Kim Destun.

“We did a full call back, which brings in all our off-duty personnel just to make sure that we had enough crews back at the hall to cover the city, while the crews fought the fires on scene. They got it out pretty quick and it was contained to the one unit.”

Crews will spend the day digging out the unit and reconstructing it to figure out the cause.

“Everybody is back in their units,” added Destun.

“There’s only been two or three that have been displaced. There is a little bit of a smoke smell in the upper floors, but generally really contained to the one unit.”

Destun says with the building being city-owned, social services is on site to support residents.

“City police are on scene with us and if there is to be anything that’s suspicious, which we don’t think so at this time. Our investigation will make sure everybody gets back in and get the building back in order for us.”