On Tuesday afternoon residents of Canefield East received a scare when what was supposed to be a small backyard bush fire rapidly turned into a raging inferno which consumed about five acres of land.
According to acting station officer Courtney Challenger, the deputy Fire Officer accompanied by five fire officers went to the scene and it took approximately four hours to control the fire.
Speaking to Dominica News Online, Challenger said that the fire station received a report of the fire at about 4pm on Tuesday afternoon. He said that a resident of Canefield East was clearing land and burning some trash, for agricultural purposes. “She then set fire to what she collected,” he said. “Because of the strong wind in the area, the fire got out of control and spread through an area of approximately five acres of land.”
Challenger added that although the fire was threatening some of the houses in the area, there was no damage.
“It was not possible to gain access to some of the area that was burning so the fire was left to burn out itself on the mountain but the fire officers stood by and saturated the area around the houses and extinguished the fire that was near the houses.”
Challenger warned the public that although it is not the dry season, bush fires can still occur and as such they should take precaution when starting fires.
“Although it is not that dry yet, we still want to ask people to take precaution especially when burning bushes. They should consider looking at the wind direction, the strength of the wind and inform their neighbors that they are going to do some burning since they can be affected by the smoke.”
He pointed out that this is not the first bush fire for the year. He said that the station has already responded to a few calls at Morne Daniel and other parts of Canefield.
Too much air pollution with all of this burning and it is bad for people’s health. People need to do much less of it and only under certain conditions.
This is a serious matter. Fire is no respecter of people and their property. What if the fire had spread to neighboring homes and either damaged or burned down their homes?
Fire officials, it is time to request the government to enact a Law against burning bushes or garbage near the homes of residents.
The bushes and garbage should be placed separately in a big garbage bag and, at an appointed time be taken away by a garbage collector to dispense with elsewhere, a chosen and appropriate area.
Time we have back up from the environmental health people and sue someone for that. Try do that in U.S.A. or Canada. They’ll sling ypu in jail for such ignorant behavior.
You are so correct. The perpetrators will also be charged. Worst, if there is damage to the neighbors homes. Smoke inhalation is dangerous. You know it enters the nostrils, to the throat, through the lungs and into the bloodstream. This includes the eyes.
I reside in Canada and I am afraid of fire, even when cooking. I do my utmost to be as careful as I could be. However, you know there are some people who could be negligent. Too many people are maimed and also die from smoke inhalation and also fire burns, some through smoking and from kitchen cooking as oil burning, etc.
It appears that whoever was burning the bushes in Canefield East did not give this fire endangerment a thought. This is also lack of consideration.
People have to learn to be more careful and less negligent
A squatter that did that and all now so I have to be cleaning up all that mess
This rasta lady started the fire way in the back where several squatters are living and so many other residents got affected. All the bush fires in Canefield East starts in the area because everywhere else is populated with houses. The wind quickly takes the fire and drives it towards the other houses in the main settlement and those inside that hole are fine while the rest stay in fear until the firemen have it under control. This is so unfair for people to be at work and having no idea this is going on…it is a selfish way to live but as they say”all shall eat and all shall get a piece of land to build on”
U had to spin it political..yes sah…Allu not easy
You are so much against these people. The fire did not even to the area squatter yet still you are blaming them. There was no fire in the squatters area. You have you mansions but you are still trying to press those who are trying to have shelter over there heads. SMH!!!!!!!!!!
What gets to me is when tires are used to burn the garbage. This should be banned. It is just not good for the environment and our health.
nature island of dominica….ecotourism….pristine nature…and locals burning bushes with tyre…disposing waste on the coastline….and throwing KFC everywhere….
I have a neighbor who is always burning bush and she waits when it late afternoon to do it. Sometimes I can’t even stay in my house, if I tell her that then I’m a bad neighbor.
Accident do happen, next time be more careful.
No excuses. This incident was entirely preventable.
Plz people be careful . Fire dont talk or worn.accident happen
“warn”. I see your computer keys may have a problem. Are you Jessica?
Dominicans LOVE to burn things…. always burning something…
Kill it with fire before it lays eggs!!
When “dey” doing their stupidness, please be careful of my house, which I worked, and I am still working for.
Please please can this news be broadcast on all radio station as we have many elders in Canefield who burn rubbish and may not see this news or hear of it. I saw the fire in canefield east last night
I was frightened for the people who live there.
U see stupidness!! She should be charged!!
Why are we still burning our trash? It is hazardous to the ozone, it is dangerous and iresponsible. I am asthmatic and would often have to leave my home when the neighbours would burn their trash. We need to stop this nonsense. I am all for keeping our yards clean but it is stupid to do it in an irresponsible manner. God bless the fire officers who have to deal with stupidity.
Does this mean no more roasting Breadfruit with fire wood, in de back yard?
It should not be where it is populated. In a town/city, it is roasted in the kitchen oven.
Those who have a backyard, some, wide enough use a BBQ. Even then they have to take extra precaution with it.
There are always idiots who insist on burning trash. Even if it does not get out of control the smoke and the smell are a nuisance to your neighbours. Please, compost any vegetable material and put the rest of your waste in your garbage can for Solid Waste to collect. Especially don’t burn plastics or tires because they are know to cause cancer.