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'Illegally placed canister' may have sparked incinerator fire– Hon Malone

- fire in wee hours of February 14, 2022, damaged incinerator @ Pockwood Pond
Virgin Islands (VI) Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) has revealed what may have caused the latest incinerator fire at Pockwood Pond on February 14, 2022. Photo: GIS
Hon Malone speaking on the February 22, 2022, edition of VIP radio said an illegally placed cannister seem to have sparked the explosion and resulted in the fire with damages to the control panel, conveyor belt, and to other pieces of equipment. Photo: Facebook
Hon Malone speaking on the February 22, 2022, edition of VIP radio said an illegally placed cannister seem to have sparked the explosion and resulted in the fire with damages to the control panel, conveyor belt, and to other pieces of equipment. Photo: Facebook
A skid mount incinerator. Photo: inciner8.com
A skid mount incinerator. Photo: inciner8.com
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) has revealed what may have caused the incinerator fire at Pockwood Pond on February 14, 2022.

An explosion had reportedly resulted in a massive fire.

Explosion rocked facility on February 14, 2022 

A report indicated that, according to the Assistant Manager of Solid Waste Department, Anslem Myers, "the fire took place after 2:00 a.m. following the explosion inside of the incinerator facility where the garbage is stored for incineration.

“The fire escalated very quickly. Our workers tried to contain the fire but were unable to,” Mr Myers explained.

Hon Malone, speaking on the February 22, 2022, edition of VIP Let's Talk, said an illegally placed canister seems to have sparked the explosion and resulted in the fire.

He said the fire caused damages to the control panel, conveyor belt, and to other pieces of equipment at the incinerator.

Gov't looking at tertiary options - Hon Malone 

The Health Minister said authorities, therefore, are looking at proposals for a tertiary treatment option via new technologies that could provide a golden opportunity for a recycling programme in the territory.

He said Government will also look into pushing legislation to reduce waste, particularly items like plastics, styrofoam and tires, batteries and wood. 

“In the interim...we are looking in terms of two or three companies getting a quick bid, so that we can then decide [on] this skid mounted mobile incinerators, we have located some companies that can manufacture these,” he said.

He said the mobile incinerators will then be placed on Virgin Gorda and Tortola and when a permanent facility is then built on Tortola, then the mobile incinerators will move to Anegada and Jost van Dyke.

Public urged to separate garbage

In the Interim, Hon Malone called for persons to be responsible by separating their garbage to control what goes into the stream.

This is not the first time fire has affected operations at the Pockwood Pond facility. Back in November 2018, a fire damaged key components of the incinerator.

11 Responses to “'Illegally placed canister' may have sparked incinerator fire– Hon Malone”

  • same old story (28/02/2022, 09:40) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Keep hearing about legislation aimed at banning styrofoam and single use plastic, how hard can it be, it’s a no brainer, please just get this legislation knocked on the head.
  • Rome is burning (28/02/2022, 09:51) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    At the end of the day we need to remove this useless minister because every thing under his portfolio is in shambles
  • 911 (28/02/2022, 09:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Things to talk
  • resident (28/02/2022, 10:38) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Many countries including England require residents to separate their garbage at home - food waste, plastic, paper etc. You are fined if you don’t. We need to consider something like this. I know some countries provide the garbage bags as well. I remember visiting the u.s and saw a bag of garbage sitting outside for sometime and when I asked why I was told the homeowner had used the wrong garbage bag. We need to be more concerned about the environment and how in simple ways we can do our part in helping our planet. I see some restaurants using the environmentally friendly food crates and some do paper straws. I know some persons don’t care for the paper straws. After a while you will get used to it. No where in England uses plastic straws. Let us all work together to do our little part to help.


    • mp (28/02/2022, 15:29) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      paper straws? lets be real! They don't last! I used some and my milkshake was not halfway, it got soft and break. Off to get another paper straw to finish my drink.
      • First World Problems (28/02/2022, 19:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        You are upset you had to get another paper straw to finish your milkshake. Not considering the impact it has on the environment but the fact that your straw got soggy.
    • @resident (01/03/2022, 07:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Could not agree more but you left out a key element: a monthly garbage bill for every household/business, the imposition of which is probably political suicide. Proper waste management, including recycling, incurs cost. I’m OK with a monthly garbage bill so long as wastes are properly managed.
      As to skid mounted incinerators, how much capacity do they have? What about emissions? Who will run and maintain them? How is this being funded? The suggestion strikes me as a band-aid solution. W
  • 9 WORDS (28/02/2022, 11:44) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Go back to the bush with the bushman mentality.
  • "May have" (28/02/2022, 14:57) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I understand that refused had piled up outside and against the incinerator and caught fire. Poor house keeping, lazyness was the cause. AGAIN
  • WO (28/02/2022, 17:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You are probably the only one that didn't know that by now,
    And look up now fire
  • Ffs (01/03/2022, 17:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    why is the electrical panel in the vicinity of garbage being store for incineration? this is twice now. move the control panels away from the garbage and the furnace f%$^wit


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