An early morning fire destroyed an unoccupied wooden structure at Point Wharf
and investigators of the fire department are probing into the cause of the fire.
Fire Department spokesman, Inspector Lester Bagot reported that the St. John’s
Fire Department received the call at 1:20 a.m. reporting that there was a fire in the
Point Area.
“An immediate response was made in the No. 8 Fire Tender at St John's Fire
Station, No. 17 Fire Tender at All Saints Fire Station, and the No. 7 Fire Tender at
Coolidge Fire Station. On arrival at the scene, the fire crew met a structure fully
engulfed in fire. Water was used from the fire tenders to control and extinguish the
fire. The building formally housed the Ebenezer Primary School. The building was
completely destroyed by the fire. At the time of the fire, the building was
unoccupied and frequented by vagrants,” Inspector Bagot explained.
Despite the valiant efforts of the firefighters, the building a two-story wooden
structure measuring 70 x 44 feet was destroyed. The fire brigade is investigating
the origin of the fire.
Years ago, the building formerly the Ebenezer Primary School, was generally
known as Henry’s School, the name of the man at the helm of the institutions for
years. It was located on the north side of the Fisheries Complex separated by a
road from the port. It was considered an old iconic landmark structure that was
held in some regard by many who attended school there.
The fire is believed to have led to a power outage in the area and crews from
APUA were on the scene very early, to have the electricity restored.
