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Bulldozer moves in to demolish HWP building

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The remaining part of the HWP building is torn down. Pictures by Akil Simmons.

The remnants of the fire-ravaged HWP building were this morning torn down.A large bulldozer moved in at lunchtime to demolish the front of the HWP building - the only part left after the fire yesterday.Earlier in the morning, droves of people are today heading to HWP to “get their memento” of the huge fire that everyone is talking about.A steady stream of residents from across the Island are visiting St John's Road in Pembroke to ensure they have the devastation on their cameras.Traffic built up as motorists slowed down to point, stare and take photos of the shell of the building surrounded by burned out cars. Some motorists simply stopped their vehicles in the middle of the road.Cars, trucks, taxis and bikes also pulled over on the side of the road to get a better look of the wreckage, which was still smouldering this morning.Comments such as: “It's bad”; “It's a lot worse than I thought”; and “This is going to cost a fortune” could be frequently heard as onlookers chatted to each other about the damage.The blaze started in the body and paint centre at about 2pm yesterday, before quickly ripping through the car showroom. There were flames up to 35ft and the huge cloud of black smoke could be seen as far as Flatts Village.All 115 HWP staff got out safely and up to 60 firefighters took about three hours to contain the fire. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but firefighters think it may have been due to a faulty fusebox.The building remains cordoned off with HWP bosses and fire investigators on the scene walking through the rubble. They are trying to establish the cause of the blaze and make the area safe.Damon Robins was at the scene taking photos and video footage for his family overseas who he said were “shocked and asking questions”.He said: “Everyone is heading down here today to have a look and take pictures. They all want to get their mementos.“Although it's bad, real bad, this is probably the most excitement we've all had since Cup Match”.St John's Road is expected to continue to be one of the busiest and most well travelled roads in Bermuda today even though police have told people to stay away.The HWP Group, including the RUBIS gas station, remains closed today.For more pictures click here