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Fire engulfs former CK Pool Hall
Cops arrest man at the scene in connection with the blaze
A fire broke out yesterday afternoon at a single-story structure used to be occupied by CK Pool Hall Bar & Grill, located in front of the U.S. Postal Office in Chalan Kanoa.
Police officers interrogated a man who appeared drunk at the scene. After a few minutes, officers handcuffed him and brought him inside a police vehicle.
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- Firefighters try to suppress the blaze that broke out at a building formerly occupied by CK Pool Hall Bar & Grill in Chalan Kanoa yesterday afternoon. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the mysterious fire. (Ferdie de la Torre)
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- Police officers arrest a man in connection with the fire that engulfed a building formerly occupied by CK Pool Hall Bar & Grill near the U.S. Postal Office in Chalan Kanoa yesterday afternoon. (Ferdie de la Torre)
Sources said the man is a certain Jerry, who is regularly seen in Chalan Kanoa. Witnesses apparently saw him come out of the former CK Pool Hall shortly before smoke began pouring out of the building.
Department of Public Safety Fire Division spokesperson Jocelyn Alvarez confirmed that a man was arrested in connection with the fire. She said investigators have not released any other information about the individual as investigation is ongoing.
Alvarez said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined as investigators were still conducting interviews with witnesses and residents in the area.
Several people, mostly children, watched firefighters spray water into the building, which is located just behind the Saipan and Northern Islands Leadership Memorial Kiosku.
Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to a one-story house and a two-story concrete building behind the former CK Pool.
Alvarez said DPS Fire Division received an emergency call yesterday at 1:33pm from an unnamed person who reported seeing heavy smoke from a structure located across the Chalan Kanoa Post Office.
After a few minutes, DPS Fire Division personnel assigned to the CBRNE I and Medic I units arrived at the scene and confirmed that a single-story structure was fully engulfed in flames and portions of the roof had collapsed.
Two fire engines from Kagman and San Roque simultaneously arrived at the scene at 1:50pm. An additional Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Tanker Unit was dispatched to assist with water relay.
Alvarez said attack lines were immediately established throughout and around the structure, and surrounding buildings were evacuated.
“Due to the expanse of the building and the collapsed portion of roofing material, firefighters were only able to access a limited area inside the structure and mainly suppressed the fire from the [outside],” Alvarez said.
The fire was fully suppressed at 3:06pm and fire prevention personnel and arson investigators then began the salvage and overhaul portion of their investigation.
Alvarez said a Commonwealth Utilities Corp. crew helped cut off power to the immediate area to allow firefighters to safely put out the blaze.
CUC personnel also diverted additional water to hydrants in the area to support the firefighters’ increased water needs.
Alvarez said she could not confirm if the building was abandoned as the owner was not in the area at the time. She said they are not sure if the business was in operation.
Alvarez said some witnesses indicated it was an abandoned business, but others stated there were still individuals working in the building.
A few years ago, the owner of CK Pool complained that they lost their customers because the then-ongoing construction of the Kiosku was blocking the roads leading to the establishment.
