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UPDATE: VG fire may have been caused by children

- Department of Waste Management had plans in place to start shipping old vehicles from VG to Sea Cow's Bay
Several persons on the sister island of Virgin Gorda have reported that the fire that erupted at the derelict vehicles dump site in the Valley yesterday March 30, 2015 may have been ignited by a few children who were seen running from the location shortly before the first explosion. Photo: VINO
Fire Chief Zebalon A. McLean said,
Fire Chief Zebalon A. McLean said, "It is suspected that some children were in the area and may have caused the fire." Photo: VINO
Fighters and public-spirited citizens have joined forces to battle a major fire that has broken out in the vicinity of Prince Bar in Valley, Virgin Gorda today, March 30, 2015. Photo: VINO
Fighters and public-spirited citizens have joined forces to battle a major fire that has broken out in the vicinity of Prince Bar in Valley, Virgin Gorda today, March 30, 2015. Photo: VINO
Firefighters from the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services on the job at the dump-site. Photo: VINO
Firefighters from the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services on the job at the dump-site. Photo: VINO
According to reports, the fire started shortly after 2:30pm. Residents told our reporter now on the scene that they heard a loud explosion after which they saw a 'big ball of fire'. Photo: Team of Reporters
According to reports, the fire started shortly after 2:30pm. Residents told our reporter now on the scene that they heard a loud explosion after which they saw a 'big ball of fire'. Photo: Team of Reporters
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI - Several persons on the sister island of Virgin Gorda have reported that the fire that erupted at the derelict vehicles dump site in the Valley yesterday March 30, 2015 may have been ignited by a few children who were seen running from the location shortly before the first explosion.

This was the report also of Chief Fire Officer Mr Zebalon A. McLean even as he noted investigations are continuing. While regretting the incident and being very grateful to those who joined forces with his officers to bring the situation under control, Mr McLean said, "It is suspected that some children were in the area and may have caused the fire."

"As many other organisations do, I urge parents to keep track of their children as best as they can because this time something happened and they ran away, another time something could happen and they may be have been trapped or fallen. And let's get real as possible, they can be injured or killed.”

The fire chief was very candid in saying that such a dump site should not be in that location. "This dump site should not be in the middle of a residential area. It puts everyone at risk," he said while adding that even outside of a fire there are contaminants blowing from the dump site into people's homes.

He, however, was very thankful to his officers who he said did a very good job as well as their colleagues at the BVI Airports Authority. "And of course our civilian population who assisted all the officers as best they could. It's always good to see community effort of this magnitude. And I thank God that it was a dump site and not someone's house."

McLean alluded to the challenge of inadequate water and the accessibility of hydrants. Nonetheless, he expressed gratitude to the Water and Sewerage Department for their part played in the fight to quell the fire yesterday.

More than 60% burnt out

Manager of the Department of Waste Management Mr Greg R. Massicote ‎was present on Virgin Gorda after learning of the fire. According to him, it is estimated that more than 60% of the derelict vehicles on site were burnt yesterday.

Noting his regrets as it relates to the incident and the effect the heavy smoke and heat created as such, Massicote said that he has never received any complaints or expressions of concern about the location of the dump site. "None of those complaints ever reached me since I took over the department. I more or less came and met the site there."

Suffice to say, Massicote said his department already has a timeline of April 19, 2015 to commence the shipping of derelict vehicles from the sister island to the Sea Cows Bay dump site for the processing into scrap metal to be shipped overseas.

"I would say this much, the department was making preparations to have as much metal moved out as possible by mid next month. We are in the process of creating some space at the current site down at Sea Cows Bay. That's where they are being processed and shipped overseas," said Massicote.

He said the problem was that the Sea Cows Bay site was filled for some time, which made it challenging for them to move the materials on a more consistent basis.

Massicote said he is awaiting word from the police and the Fire and Rescue Services Department as it relates to the cause of the fire.

The Manager of the Department of Waste Management also commended the fire department, residents and businesses who stepped up to the task of quenching the ‎inferno as timely as they could have.

In alluding to the togetherness displayed by all and sundry in putting the fire out yesterday, Mr Massicote said, "That’s the kind of mentality we need in the BVI."

See previous story published on March 30, 2015:

Major fire @ derelict vehicle dump-site in VG

- Firefighters & public-spirited citizens battling blaze

VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI- (Post Time: 3:50pm) Firefighters and public-spirited citizens have joined forces to battle a major fire that has broken out at the derelict vehicle dump-site in the vicinity of Prince Bar in Valley, Virgin Gorda today, March 30, 2015.

According to reports, the fire started shortly after 2:30pm.

Residents told our reporter now on the scene that they heard a loud explosion after which they saw a “big ball of fire”.

“The fire is out of control at the moment as a large number of vehicles have been engulfed,” our reporter stated.

Firefighters were already facing water shortage with their small fire tender, however, their fight has been boosted with the addition of a water truck from Ebony and Ivory Construction, which is owned by Mr Dwite Flax.

One resident remarked “something always have to happen before they do something about this,” in noting that himself, along with other residents, have been talking to the relevant authorities about the dump-site being so close to dwellings and business places.

“This might just be the answer to the problem,” another resident stated.

Meanwhile, airport firefighters have just arrived on the scene as well as private water trucks.

Virgin Islands News Online will continue to update you on this incident as more details come in.

26 Responses to “UPDATE: VG fire may have been caused by children”

  • wow (30/03/2015, 15:56) Like (15) Dislike (24) Reply
    another ndp failure
    • yes (30/03/2015, 16:19) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
      Because when Ralph and VIP were there, VG had no land fill, they had an incinerator which NDP broke down right? Schups.
      • wow (30/03/2015, 23:14) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
        @yes haha are u mad bro it's called freedom of speech, even if you don't like what i say i have a right to say it
        • wow (01/04/2015, 08:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          free speech is right i am willing to defend to the death, all you 8ters can gyms
  • Hmmmmm (30/03/2015, 16:07) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    I can tell that you're someone with not much sense at all
  • Realist (30/03/2015, 16:14) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Something like this had to happen in order for the appropriate persons to act. That place is an eyesore!
  • true tolian (30/03/2015, 16:16) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    I guess ndp set the fire,don't you there is a thing call spontaneous combustion which happens
    all the time which is caused by high temperature.What should be done is all vehicles should be
    drained of combustible fluids.
  • Well Sa! (30/03/2015, 16:33) Like (9) Dislike (9) Reply
    The gods does not like the NDP they know they were coming to VG to fool the people with an extension to the clinic when they promised a hospital…fire going burn NDP
  • eyesight (30/03/2015, 16:37) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    The fire still blazing and many homes and business places full of smoke
  • H TOWN (30/03/2015, 17:27) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why are those vehicles there in the first place, makes the place look like a dump man, it needs cleaning up, the whole island needs cleaning up. People have all sorts of old cars and whatever else at their homes that are not working anymore, they need to get rid of those stuff and beautify the place
    • B (31/03/2015, 01:55) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      you couldn't have said it any better ( clap clap)
    • Cleanup (31/03/2015, 11:05) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Applies to Tortola too. Lots of derelict stuff lying about that should be disposed of.
    • I agree with H Town (31/03/2015, 20:21) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      GET RID OF THE DUMP ITS DEFACING THE PLACE. Devalue property and isnt safe for civilians. The area is an important are in the Valley in terms of its history being the first capital, Spanish Town. To drive by and see those wreckages packed on each other in an open residential area is so ugly and causing the place to start looking like the slums. I'm so disappointed in the fact that Dept of Waste Management is taking so loooooooong to get their act together. CLEAN UP OUR PRECIOUS LANDS!!!
  • under the bus (30/03/2015, 20:21) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    They do not even have a fire tender but up there fooling the people about a medical centre…set of oppressors
  • VG (30/03/2015, 21:06) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Was that fire lit because a tolian signed the clinic contract?
  • Pray For VG! (30/03/2015, 22:05) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let's pray for our island VG! Everywhere u turn there's Health Hazard around us. The smoke at the garbage dump in North Sound down to that sh%t stench behind the college oh my! We need a change in the way things are been done and accepted.
  • kk (31/03/2015, 05:53) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    this may just be divine intervention---clearing this sight for the Vg Hospital---just maybe
  • Syop it. (31/03/2015, 08:18) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
    You had a represenrative foe 35 plus years and he didnt fix them but you want to cruvify Johnny come lately NDP? When it hit all you haters check the real issue then. People without knowledge of their history going back to slavery..
  • Just saying (31/03/2015, 16:45) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some people in the BVI are very nasty the whole place need a good cleaning if they fine people for their nastiness the place will look better.
  • ? (31/03/2015, 16:47) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Colonial oppression, the British Empire is responsible for this (surely).
  • parent (31/03/2015, 17:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    I guess they are NDP's kids. $%%^& idiots always chatting $h1t before knowing the facts.

  • right (31/03/2015, 17:15) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply

    Only now they know that the dump site shouldn't be in that area? BVI people should be ashamed that Government not only have to pick up their trash from in the bins and along the road or take care of their sewage, they also responsible for moving their vehicles. These set of nasty @$$ ungrateful people in this place. SO sickening.

  • Cisco kid (01/04/2015, 07:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sometime places like these need a dam match in them. Broke me up now.
  • They don't care about us! (01/04/2015, 08:40) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    All i really know is them politicians don't really care about us. They only wait until something happens before they act on the situation. Look how long that dump of old cars there and they never made an effort to move them. They also put the garbage dump site in a location where people are being exposed to toxic smoke. Sometimes i'd be traveling to North Sound and when i reach a certain area the whole place does be covered with toxic smoke from the burning garbage, even the tourist are exposed. They want to kill us all! How much longer do we have to go through this before something is done i guess when we all dead smfh.
  • Hmm (01/04/2015, 09:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    In the first place that is no place for a dump, then is years now the vehicles was to move. I pray to see every one of them move and no more put there after that its an eye sore. Got the place looking like a Junk Yard.
  • pat (01/04/2015, 11:08) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    where in sea cow bay are they moving them? SCB has yet to get rid of the STT sight-seeing boat in the mangroves leaking oil. Abandon cars should have gotten barged out years ago. This is all toxic and dangerous to residents.


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