Second Fire – A fire at the Cook’s Sanitary Landfill is now smouldering after it was brought under control yesterday — the second such incident at the disposal site in exactly one week.
Second Fire Week Cook
The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) confirmed that a minor flare-up occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. in the same location where a major blaze had erupted the previous Friday, February 27th. Unlike last week’s fire, which caused the temporary closure of the landfill, the facility remained open during this latest incident.
NSWMA Chairman Danley Phillip told Observer that as recently as Thursday, March 5, the situation had appeared stable, making the early morning development all the more unexpected. Upon being notified by staff, the authority’s general manager visited the scene whilst efforts were under way to contain the blaze. The St. John’s Fire Station responded to the report and, along with other mechanisms, worked to bring the fire under control.
Crews faced some difficulty in their efforts, with conditions at the site presenting challenges. Soil in the affected area had not been fully compacted, and strong winds complicated containment efforts.
Whilst the cause of the latest incident is still under investigation, it is believed the fire may have been rekindled by conditions stemming from the previous blaze.
Last week’s fire, described as the largest in the landfill’s history, remains under separate investigation. That inferno prompted Member of Parliament for St. John’s Rural West, Richard Lewis, to renew calls for the authorities to implement long-overdue safety measures at the facility.
As efforts continue to smother the area and prevent further ignition, the NSWMA is urging residents in neighbouring communities to take necessary precautions, particularly those with respiratory ailments.
