The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FIREMEN battled a massive forest fire in windy conditions for four hours yesterday afternoon to extinguish flames that came close to homes in a nearby Freeport subdivision.

Due to strong winds, flames spread quickly burning a large area of the forest from Balao Road to the west, near the junction of Sergeant Major Road and Settler’s Way.

The fire also came close to the Sunrise Laundromat, across the street from the new $6 million state-of-the art fire station, which has almost been completed.

The cause of the fire is not known and investigations are underway into the incident.

According to reports, sometime around noon the fire department dispatched two units after receiving calls from concerned residents in the Heritage Subdivision about a bush fire that was threatening homes in the area. Smoke caused poor visibility on Settler’s Way. By 4pm, the fire was contained.

According to an officer, the flames along the road were extinguished before the after school rush hour around 3pm.

“The way the wind was blowing to the west worked in our favour and sped up the (burning) process, and we were able to strategically deal with it,” said the officer.

While investigations are underway, fire officials are advising the public to refrain from burning trash on their property.

“We are in the brush fire season; it is dry and does not take much for a fire to start around this time,” said the officer, warning that it only takes one ember.

“We are advising the public not to light any trash around their property, especially if it is near the forest or a dense wooded area.”

It is suggested that residents living near wooded areas create a margin of at least 50ft to 100ft around their property to protect their home in the event that there is a fire.

The officer said it is important that the margins are kept clear and free of debris.

He said that residents should contact Sanitation Services to remove debris from their property.

“In dealing with the fire today we encountered a lot of hurricane related trash, dead trees and other materials in the bushes, dumped by persons cleaning their property and renovating their homes after the storm.

“We found a lot of those debris which fuel fires, so we are asking persons to dispose of their trash properly,” he said.