Father, son escape as BMW erupts in flames on Ridge Road
Scenes from the vehicular blaze on Monday, July 13. (BVI News photo)
A man and his young son are counting their blessings after narrowly escaping a raging fire that engulfed their SUV along Ridge Road today, July 13.
The fire, which completely gutted the man’s BMW X5, occurred sometime after 6 pm in close proximity to the Belle Vue Seventh Day Adventist church.
Witnesses said smoke began pouring from the vehicle as the driver was heading east along the Ridge Road.
Residents reported hearing several explosions before firefighters arrived. BVI News understands the responding fire truck was forced to leave the scene briefly to refill after exhausting its water supply.
Thick black smoke billowed into the air as the vehicle burned, scorching trees on a nearby property. There were no reports of injuries that occurred as a result of the fire.
Officers from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force managed traffic while firefighters brought the blaze under control. The owner was reportedly unable to salvage any personal belongings from the vehicle.
This incident follows a three-vehicle accident along the Sir Francis Drake highway earlier that afternoon. The circumstances that led to the crash is not yet clear to our news centre. BVI News understands that no serious injuries were reported in that incident.
Scenes from the vehicular blaze. (BVI News photo)
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Glad the young man and he son are safe. Now I pray the newly installed water pipes they just replaced there is not damaged from the heat. The poor minister a try dispite he keep saying he only can spend what the Allocate to he. .
German engineering at it’s finest
You can tell that BMW is a rare best on these islands.Just the fact the brand was mentioned..nooooo not the only x5 !!!!.What is taxi in Europe is a status symbol here.