Fire on the new dumpsite/ hurricane Irma debris (updated)
Philipsburg — All streets leading to Pond Island are closed off by police due to the massive fire that started at the new dumpsite (hurricane Irma debris) on Sunday afternoon February 4th.
The Fire department and other relevant departments who have been working through the night are doing their utmost to bring this situation under control and to finally put the blaze out. During the night many persons including families with children living on Pond Island were told to evacuate the area, to avoid the inhalation of the heavy toxic smoke.
The Emergency Dispatch however received several calls during the morning hours with concerns of persons still in the immediate vicinity of the fire. A search team consisting of police officers and firefighters again went into the area which was covered by heavy smoke and did a search. Several persons were located including a physically impaired man and his wife.
Everyone who did not leave or refused to do so was ordered by police to leave the area immediately for health reasons, which they did.
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