A preliminary investigation by Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS) has confirmed that a fire that destroyed Just Right Trucking LLC’s facility in Orange Grove early Sunday morning was deliberately set. The fire, which severely damaged the company’s garage and several heavy-duty vehicles, has been classified as arson.
“This deliberate act of arson is a serious crime that not only endangers lives but also threatens the livelihoods of our community,” VIFEMS Director Antonio Stevens said in a statement. “We commend the swift response of C Company and A Company in containing this fire under challenging conditions and protecting nearby properties. The VIFEMS Arson Investigation and Prevention Unit, in collaboration with local law enforcement, is actively investigating this case.”
At around 4:37 AM on Sunday, the St. Croix 911 Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received multiple reports of a blaze in the vicinity of Just Right Trucking. Initial reports suggested the fire had originated in nearby bushes, but upon arrival, VIFEMS crews discovered the facility’s garage and several vehicles fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters deployed multiple fire suppression units to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures.
According to VIFEMS, evidence from the scene indicates the fire was set intentionally, with heavy equipment—including a trackhoe, backhoe, and three dump trucks—deliberately targeted by trespassers.
Community members rallied around the company and its staff on Sunday, and people gathered at the Orange Grove facility in a show of support. In various locations, the charred wrecks of seven heavy vehicles — three garbage trucks, two dump trucks, a backhoe, and a trackhoe excavator — remained in the places where emergency responders extinguished the blazes hours earlier.
Lorraine Benjamin-Matthew, co-owner of Just Right Trucking, said they were told of the fires early on Sunday morning. When they arrived, personnel from V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the V.I. Police Department were already on the scene. Benjamin-Matthew and her husband, Mitchell Matthew, commended the responders for their quick actions.
“We have basically over millions of dollars in damage — we know that,” she said. “However, at the end of the day, right now our concern is our employees. They’re the driving force of Just Right Trucking. Without our employees, there’s no Just Right Trucking.”
The blazes came days after the Waste Management Authority awarded Just Right Trucking a contract for garbage collection services on St. Croix. The Authority’s previous garbage hauler, Bates Trucking, had announced it would discontinue services by December 31 due to unpaid invoices. Bates Trucking’s owner, James Bates, revealed to the Source that WMA owed his company nearly $2 million.
Government House spokesperson Richard Motta Jr. confirmed on December 30 that Governor Albert Bryan Jr. had held an emergency meeting with WMA to address the situation.
In the wake of the fire, the Source requested a copy of WMA’s contract with Just Right Trucking, following the announcement of the award. The Source also inquired about the number of other parties that bid on the contract.
On Sunday, Mitchell Matthew expressed sympathy for WMA’s previous contractor but emphasized that the Authority had a responsibility to ensure garbage removal in St. Croix neighborhoods. He noted that the Authority had sent requests for proposals to multiple companies, not just his.
“And I want them to understand that they didn’t just do damage to my company. They did damage to a lot of families,” Matthew said, referring to the alleged arsonists. “For what? For what I did — I legally obtained a contract to help this community because a certain contractor couldn’t go anymore. That’s all I did.”
Later, Benjamin-Matthew revealed that the company’s security cameras had captured the events of Sunday morning but refrained from elaborating further, citing the ongoing investigation by law enforcement.
“The security footage has exactly what transpired,” she said.
The Waste Management Authority issued a statement on Sunday afternoon condemning the arson “in the strongest terms.”
“This unacceptable and unfortunate act demonstrates a blatant disregard for the rule of law, the livelihoods of hardworking individuals, and the well-being of the St. Croix community,” the Authority stated. “This malicious act has disrupted critical services and undermined efforts to restore timely waste collection for our residents.”
The Authority said it’s working with law enforcement and other agencies in support of their investigation and is “committed to overcoming this setback and fulfilling our mission of providing reliable waste management services for the Virgin Islands.”
