Riverton fire still not out

Work is continuing in an effort to put out the latest fire out at Jamaica’s largest waste disposal site, located at Riverton City, in the capital, Kingston.

Horace Glaze, Deputy Director of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) told RJR News on Saturday afternoon that there was still smoke being emitted from the dump. He was speaking after touring the site along with representatives from two other agencies – the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

Mr. Glaze added that the team will be working throughout Saturday night and Sunday to reduce the smoke.

“We’ve made significant progress,” Mr. Glaze told RJR News, but added that the response teams were “not in the clear yet because of the extensive heat and the fact that there are other areas in which the fire continues to burn underneath.”

Nevertheless, Mr. Glaze expressed optimism that the area that was still burning would be “significantly reduced” by Sunday evening.

The NSWMA has been ordered by the National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) to provide it with a report on what caused the fire. Senior officials at the solid waste collection agency have said it was the work of arsonists.

Smoke nuisance

Mr. Glaze added that, due to changes in the wind direction, particularly in the mornings and evenings, the smoke will continue to pose a significant challenge for residents in some communities.

He said the community mainly affected in the evenings is Portmore, and, in the mornings, Red Hills and Duhaney Park.

ODPEM is advising residents to take necessary precautions to avoid health problems: “Keep your doors and windows closed, as far as is possible. If a significant amount of smoke comes in your community’s  direction, then it is best, if you are on the outside, to keep a wet rage over your nostrils or mouth, just as an extra precaution.”