Fire destroys Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross store room

Fire destroyed a store room of the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross in St John’s on Friday March 5, 2004. The old wooden store room housed three First Aid tents, ten sleeping cots, 12 pairs of wooden crutches, three damaged walkers, 12 bed pans, two commodes, 15 pairs of reading glasses, carpenter tools and two chil dren car seats. All were completely destroyed.

Vagrants have broken into this store room in recent times to shelter from the cold nights. Evidence of smoking may be the cause of the fire according to investigations. Other Red Cross materials are housed in steel containers.

Director General of the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross, Gerald Price said the Red Cross will immediately start a fundraising drive to rebuild a concrete block stor e room. He thanked the St John’s Fire Brigade for their quick response to quell the fire before any damage was done to the headquarters building just 20 feet from the store room.