Tires, dry palettes and the intense summer heat was all it took to get another fire going at the Harrold Road dumpsite yesterday, creating thick plumes of smoke that blanketed the sky for hours.
When the Bahama Journal arrived on the scene, fire fighters were still trying hard to reduce the fire’s intensity, using brake pads to contain it and according to officials, efforts to do so will probably continue for 24 to 36 hours.
“We’re trying to stop it from progressing before it consumes the whole area,” Senior Deputy Director at the Department of Environmental Health, Thomasina Wilson.
Environment Minister, Kenred Dorsett was with his Cabinet colleagues at a church service in Fox Hill when he found out about the blaze.

“This is the worst possible scenario because of the level of burn and with the summer heat and the current conditions, makes it an even more tenable situation and so we have contacted our emergency response heavy equipment team. They are all mobilized. I am really pleased with the reaction of the police department,” the minister said on Tuesday.

“The primary objective right now is to move the piles of tires that are near the fire…We already have 2,000 to 3,000 water trucks that are on site to dampen it.”

The landfill fire no doubt affects nearby residents, particularly those plagued with respiratory problems.

As such, the minister of health and the Department of Public Health were both contacted.

“The key issue for us is when you look at the impacts the fires normally have on residents in Jubilee Gardens and neighbouring communities, it is critical for us to ensure that the clinics are aware of what is happening so that anyone who may suffer from respiratory issues get the medical assistance they need immediately,” Mr. Dorsett explained.

He however expressed hope that something like this does not happen again.

“The reality is I’m hoping that this is going to be the last incident. Cabinet has before it a matter for its deliberation to finally bring relief to this landfill,” he said.

According to Mr. Dorsett, that relief includes landfill mining remediation.

This also includes plans to create a green park on the landfill site.

Prior to yesterday’s incident, there was a fire at landfill four months ago.