At approximately 4:11 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2026, the Turks and Caicos Islands Fire and Rescue Service (TCIFRS) received a report of a fire at a commercial establishment within Saltmills Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenciales. The building’s smoke detector activated the alarm, and the monitoring company notified the Fire Service.
Three on-duty firefighters from the Musgrove Fire Station in the South Dock area responded in Tanker 1. An off-duty officer also attended and served as Incident Commander. The crew arrived at approximately 4:28 p.m., 17 minutes after the report was received. The distance between the responding station and Grace Bay contributed to the response time.
On arrival, firefighters met with a building maintenance representative, who reported smoke coming from an air-conditioning vent in the ceiling. Although the plaza includes a two-storey section, the affected establishment is in the single-storey portion.
Firefighters accessed the ceiling space through an access hatch and found a fire involving an electrical cable, surrounding insulation and part of a wooden roof beam. They initially used a fire extinguisher to knock down the flames, then deployed a hose from Tanker 1 to extinguish the remaining burning material. The fire was confined to the area of origin, limiting damage to the wider structure.
Chief Fire Officer Dr. Hezedean Smith commended the crew, stating: “I commend our firefighters for their effective tactical actions in locating and confining the fire to the area of origin. Their professionalism and commitment to protecting lives and property reflect the dedication of our Fire and Rescue Service.”
No injuries were reported among staff or responding firefighters. The incident was concluded without further reported issues.
