In a combined gallant effort, personnel in the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service, private owners of heavy equipment and water trucks, and other persons, worked feverishly to control what was described as a most dangerous fire at the Corito Landfill.
The fire, of unknown origin, flared up on Saturday, March 29, in the metal section of the dumpsite where derelict vehicles, refrigerators and other solid waste materials were deposited. It then spread to part of an area for discarded tyres, emitting billows of black smoke.
The fire and the stench of the combustible materials prompted the Ministry of Social Development to advise residents in the area to take the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves from the smoke.
While public and private water trucks raced back and forth, fighting the fire, heavy equipment operators dug trenches to stop its spread to a large deposit of tyres. Not only were the trucks attempting to put out the fire, but they also became engaged in showering down the bulldozers to protect them from the intense heat. The heavy equipment operators were able to cover a large portion of the burning area with marl to stop the spread of the fire.
By Monday morning the fire and smoke had substantially subsided but with much of the area still smouldering. Acting Chief Fire Officer, Shondell Hodge, who supervised a number of fire fighters, commented: “This team was deployed earlier this morning. We visited the tyre area and were basically satisfied that the fire was under control, but we are now directing our efforts to a pile of rubble which is producing white smoke instead of the black dense smoke. This means our efforts are successful.”
The Acting Fire Chief said that in order to have an abundance of water at hand, workmen had opened up a large hole into the water table at the site. “We are now using this water to cool the rubble and the supply will not run out,” he stated. The murky water, which he believed is coming from the sea, was reached at a depth of six feet and is located in a previously dugout area.
Mr Hodge has issued a press statement in which he said in part: “I would like to thank the members of the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service; the Ministry of Infrastructure; Her Excellency the Governor and staff; the citizens of Anguilla; Superior Heavy Equipment; Greig’s Heavy Equipment; CLM Heavy Equipment; Vanterpool Water Delivery; and all other Government and non-Government officials for their assistance. I would also like to commend the Fire Service Adviser Mr Jim Bunting, Sub Officer Elridge Richardson, Leading Fire Fighters Carlise Lake and Junie Fleming and Fire fighter Dennis Brooks. Special thanks to Deputy Governor Mr Stanley Reid, Permanent Secretary, Mr Larry Franklin, Chief Engineer, Mr Bancroft Battick, Mr Nigel Connor and Mr Rawle Hazell for their extraordinary efforts. Without that collaborative effort the danger and damage could have significantly increased.”
This is the second major fire at the Corito landfill, the first being in 2006 east of the present burnt area.
