12 days later: Fire & smoke persist @ Cox Heath
Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September of 2017 that left houses, businesses and churches flatted, humans and animals dead, big trees uprooted, cars overturned and destroyed, many residents homeless and widespread looting, a nationwide cleanup began.
The Waste Management Department (WMD) organised a makeshift dumpsite in Cox Heath where everything was dumped, including damaged beds, stoves, refrigerators, automobile parts, roof tops, boats, trees and even chemicals of all kinds. The garbage pile reached almost 12 to 15 feet in some areas of the Cox Heath dumpsite.
Where there is fire there is smoke
After some six months of debris of all kinds, including dead animals, a huge fire erupted on the afternoon of May 9, 2018 and as of today May 20, 2018 is still burning. Smoke has reached as far as St John and St Thomas, in the United States Virgin Islands.
A visit today Sunday May 20, 2018 by our roving camera confirmed the fire is not out after both the WMD and the Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) promised that in a week the fire would be gone.
The WMD denied starting the fire and both police and FRS are still investigating the cause.
The smoke from the fire has caused many to become ill in the immediate area, along with those in the western end of Tortola, and residents in the nearby St John and St Thomas are also bitterly complaining about the effect of the smoke on their health and ability to stay in their homes.
Many residents on the western end of Tortola and in the area of Freeman’s Reef have reported to us about the effect of the smoke and in some cases they had to leave their homes.
Residents in VI & USVI had to relocate too
The Dr Smith Government announced a few days ago that a hot line has been set up for residents affected by the fire; however, it’s not immediately known the type of information they are collecting or complaints they have had, or remedies on the situation.
It appears at this point no one knows for certain when the fire and smoke will end and residents continue to have asthma attacks, irritated eyes and coughs while others must stay away from their homes or endure the health hazard.
The fire and smoke persist after some 12 days later.
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7 Responses to “12 days later: Fire & smoke persist @ Cox Heath”
And the worst part is there is a general consensus that the fire was intentionally set to aid in getting the metal separated from other debris. If this is true, at what cost? This would be very very sad indeed.
We are now PLEADING with the Government to PLEASE find the way and means to put that thing out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!