New dump-fire emits low-hanging smoke

PHILIPSBURG – A fire on the post-Irma dumpsite on Pond Island ignited on Tuesday night and continued to be a nuisance throughout the day on Wednesday. Low-hanging smoke wafted over Soualiga Boulevard and on social media citizens complained about yet another dump fire.

Prime Minister Leona Marlin-Romeo said at Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing that the people from the fire department and the ministry of VROMI were at the location on Tuesday night. “As I speak they are doing their utmost to extinguish this fire.”

The government will continue to monitor the effects of the smoke, the Prime Minister said, adding that a decision would have to be taken about a possible evacuation of affected citizens.

“This is the same process we used during the previous fire,” Marlin-Romeo said. “People in the immediate vicinity are asked to keep their windows and doors closed and to stay out of the smoke as much as possible.”

While the Prime Minister made her statements on Wednesday morning shortly before 11 p.m. the dump continued emitting smoke throughout the day. A lone pump sprayed the smoldering rubbish continuously with water without seemingly having an immediate effect.

Photo caption: A lone pump sprays water onto the fire at the post-Irma dump site. Photo Hilbert Haar.