The screech of sirens pierced the night air Monday as all the island's firefighters raced to the scene of a three-alarm blaze that engulfed Mountain Top -- a tourist attraction with a nearly 360-degree view -- known best for its banana daiquiris.
"The whole place has just gone up," said Police Commissioner James McCall, who said he had spoken with Chief Rodney Querrard, who was at the scene.
Gov. John deJongh Jr., speaking from the scene later, said, "It is definitely gone." He continued, "They are just trying to control it at this point and to mitigate any damage to surrounding property."
There we no injuries, according to Government House spokesman Jean Greaux Jr.
"All off-duty firefighters have been called out, along with all water-supply apparatus," he said.
Personnel from Housing, Parks and Recreation and Public Works were also summoned, according to Greaux.
Later Greaux said that although no one was being evacuated, only emergency vehicles had access to the road going up to Mountain Top from the three-way intersection at Route 33. Residents coming home late were not being allowed in.
The raging fire was not threatening to neighboring houses, but fire personnel were hosing down propane tanks on the property, hoping to keep the intense heat from causing them to explode, he said.
The blaze started around 8:30 p.m., Greaux said. By 10 p.m. an eerie orange glow silhouetted the surrounding hills and could be seen from Peterborg and Hull Bay. One person who called the Source from Yacht Haven said she could see a pulsating pink cloud hanging over the mountain.
As of 11 p.m., sirens could still be heard and emergency vehicles observed from the hillsides above town moving toward the fire.
As the night wore on, the surrounding valleys gradually filled with the charred scent of what was until Monday night one of the island's oldest and most famous tourist haunts.
No fire officials could be reached for comment about the cause of the fire.
May 19, 2009 St. Thomas Mountain Top fire - Sad news from St. Thomas as world famous Mountain Top, home of the banana daiquiri and the St. Thomas Blog’s “Best View, 2008” award has apparently been completely destroyed in a 3 alarm fire. Photos courtesy of Drew Alston
“The whole place has just gone up,” said Police Commissioner James McCall, who said he had spoken with Chief Rodney Querrard, who was at the scene.
Gov. John deJongh Jr., speaking from the scene later, said, “It is definitely gone.” He continued, “They are just trying to control it at this point and to mitigate any damage to surrounding property.”
The blaze started around 8:30 p.m., Greaux said. By 10 p.m. an eerie orange glow silhouetted the surrounding hills and could be seen from Peterborg and Hull Bay reports Shaun A. Pennington of the St. Thomas Source.
This is certainly a blow to the dedicated employees and family of Mountain Top. Nicci and I send our thoughts and prayers out to them.
I have been there a couple times, once before it was built up to what was destroyed, many years ago. I hope they rebuild it. It was a great stop, last time we were there Godfrey stopped there as a part of his tour.
We, too, have fond memories of Mountain Top and the narrow road up to it! It had a breathtaking view of the ocean and the neighboring islands and was a fun place.
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Fire Destroys MOUNTAIN TOP on St. Thomas
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