76.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesWHARFSIDE EVIDENCE BEING ANALYZED OFF ISLAND

WHARFSIDE EVIDENCE BEING ANALYZED OFF ISLAND

Fire Marshal Glen Francis, who is investigating the December fire at Wharfside Village, said he’s waiting for an analysis from the insurance adjuster before making an official announcement on the cause of the blaze.
Francis said he didn't know how long it would take for the investigators to complete tests on various items of debris taken from the fire.
The Dec. 28 fire damaged the office of the Pusser’s restaurant and retail store and a storage room used by Wharfside.
Two people reportedly escaped the fire through the window of a loft above the storage area. St. John Deputy Fire Chief Brian Chapman said at the time of the fire it appeared the pair had been living on the premises.
John Catania, a representative of National Adjustment Co. of New York, and John Grauer, described by Francis as an arson investigator working for Pusser's and Wharfside's insurance company, joined the investigation on Jan. 4. Francis said it is routine for insurance companies to send their own experts to a fire site.
"We sent away pieces of evidence to be analyzed, and we’re waiting for a conclusion," he said Monday. He declined to specify the kinds of evidence submitted for analysis.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.

UPCOMING EVENTS