The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS at Renew Bahamas, the company contracted to remediate the New Providence landfill, said they are not certain what caused a surface fire at the site.

The latest fire began around 8pm on Saturday.

According to officials at the site, the fire services branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) was contacted and work crews were immediately mobilised to “contain” the fire and “arrest its spread.”

“As with previous incidents, immediate action was taken to reinforce the fire breaks around the fire, before moving to address the smoke emanating from the fire using a combination of heavy-duty and specialist equipment and wetted fill,” a statement from the company said.

Renew Bahamas suggested that residents in the surrounding community may experience “discomfort” from smoke emanating from the site “depending on the wind direction.” Officials warned that residents in the affected areas should stay indoors and keep windows closed.

Since commencing operations at the Harold Road site, the company has been plagued by arson attacks at the landfill, a problem that has persisted for decades.

This latest fire marks the fourth blaze at the site since January. In recent weeks, there has been an increase in complaints from residents near the site about smoke.

Officials in February announced plans to build and manage the nation’s first materials recycling facility at the Harold Road landfill. Renew Bahamas President and CEO Gerhard Beukes called the announcement of “the multi-faceted, 125,000 square foot facility”, the start of converting one of the nation’s biggest issues into a true “Bahamian success story”.

The company stated that it is satisfied that this latest fire is within the control of work crews and isolated to the rear of the current tipping area.