Fire Guts 19-Century Buildings in U.S. Virgin Islands' Historic District
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) -- A fire gutted two wooden 19th century buildings in Charlotte Amalie's historic district on Monday.
The fire started in a second-floor apartment above a closed clothing store and spread because of a strong wind, said Fire Chief Glenn Francis.
The historic district was almost completely destroyed by fires in 1804, 1805 and 1806, said Ronny Lockhart, a member of the Virgin Islands Historical Society.
The United States bought the three-island, 100,000-population U.S. Caribbean territory from Denmark in 1917.