The owner of Precision Electrical Sales & Services Inc. says he has lost everything after a fire destroyed the long-standing hardware and electrical business at Bridge Cot, St George, on Sunday night.
Derek Sargeant, who has operated the store for 22 years, visited the structure early Monday morning and confirmed that the damage runs into the millions.
This is a traumatic loss. Everything has been gone. We just brought in a lot of new stock… but everything is gone. This is gonna be over millions of dollars in loss.”
Sargeant said the business, which employed about ten people, was fully insured. While his separate electrical contracting operations will continue, he explained that the hardware arm – built over two decades – is totally gone.
He also expressed frustration over what he described as inferior products on the local market. Sargeant said he purchased a fireproof safe from a local supplier believing important documents and cash would survive the blaze.
“When I went home last night, I was saying at least all my components and stuff would be in the safe, would be safe. When I got back here this morning, everything gone – cash, everything, documents, everything. I don’t think there is much I can do.”
He said the hardware store had built a loyal customer base across St George, St Thomas and even as far as St Lucy, known for carrying items not easily found elsewhere on the island.
“I go away and buy a lot of stuff from outside and bring in, you know, a little different things,” he said.
Despite the devastation, Sargeant made it clear he intended to rebuild. “Yes, we’ll come back. We’ll probably come back stronger… same location. I’ll be back.”
Fire officials responded with four tenders on Sunday night. No injuries were reported, and investigations into the cause of the blaze are continuing. (AM)
