Click to view full size

Fire officers and police are investigating a suspected case of arson after a small structure caught fire in the compound of the Old Museum building in Port of Spain early Tuesday.

According to reports, around 3:05 a.m. police and fire officers responded to reports of a blaze at the corner of Broadway and South Quay, near the Diego Martin taxi stand. When officers arrived, fire appliances from the Wrightson Road Fire Station were already on scene extinguishing flames from a small guard booth located at the front of the Old Museum compound.

The booth, measuring about 8 feet by 6 feet and fitted with water, was unoccupied at the time. Fire Service Sub Officer Bobb said while extinguishing the flames, officers detected a strong scent of an accelerant, raising suspicion that the blaze may have been deliberately set.