News

Fire Being Contained at New Providence Landfill
The bush fire which started behind a business on Fire Trail Road on Sunday and erupted into a massive fire that quickly spread to the New Providence Landfill, nearby coppice and the fringes of Jubilee Sub-division is being contained.
The Hon. Kenred Dorsett, Minister of the Environment and Housing on the landfill site today talked about containment measures to control the fire which intensified due to strong winds on Sunday.
He explained that workers were using the tractors to dig wells and use the moist fill to cover the pockets of fire and eliminate the oxygen. This work he said began around 6:30 a.m. and would most likely lead into the early morning hour somewhere around 12:30 a.m.
Said Minister Dorsett, “Once we finish with this ridge then we will continue to put out the hotspots on the top surface of the landfill. So what we now have happening are teams containing this site, other teams working at DEHS building to my right and we have a third team working on creating a new tipping floor where waste can come in to the landfill beginning tomorrow.”
Superintendent Walter Evans, Fire Chief also on the site today explained that extinguishing the fire is a team effort between firemen, members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Civil Aviation Department.
“So we’re ensuring that we get rid of all of the smoke, make sure that the fire is extinguished, make sure that people can breathe normal air as opposed to smoke,” he said.
With regards to Jubilee Gardens Sub-division the Fire Chief said that the winds were beneficial in that the smoke was no longer stagnant making the area more breathable for residents and the smoke dissipation will allow for more visibility. He said however that the Sub-division was being cautiously monitored and that there were constant police patrols in the area.