Pond Island fire raises Alert

A huge fire on the land fill Friday, sent thick black smoke blanketing Philipsburg and the cul de sac basin which signaled the need to seriously find a solution to this waste management crisis that have been plaguing the Island in recent times. The fire department speed off to the scene but could do very little to stop the intensity because of the nature of the fire which is said to be the cause of tires burning.

The fire department however, is doing what it can to contain the blaze and is advising persons living downwind from the landfill to close windows and doors especially those having a respiratory challenge such as asthma or shortness of breath. As a precautionary measure the Carnival Fascination has been advised to divert port call due to the fire that continue burning into Friday evening.

The dump has been identified by Nature Foundation as an environmental disaster that if not addressed quickly it can get in the way of the recovery of our tourism product getting back on stream and the further deteriorating of the health of our citizens. The seriousness of these dump fires have seen the government at one point shutting down its services on Pond Island to the public; Schools nearby closing, all because of the health risk that it poses to the citizens inhaling the hazardous smoke. This situation has now become an issue that warrants action rather than a point of discussion or even lip service.

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