Work resumes at Fond Cole landfill where a fire continues to burn

Thick smoke from Fond Cole landfill fire covered parts of Stock Farm, Goodwill and surrounding areas

Work has resumed at the Fond Cole Landfill today following a fire which started at that facility on Saturday evening [February 23].

Fond Cole residents on Sunday raised concerns about thick clouds of smoke that came from that fire.

The smoke appeared to have covered the Goodwill , Stockfarm and areas in Roseau.

The Office of Disaster Management issued a statement on Sunday asking residents in the vicinity of the Landfill to move immediately since the fumes may be toxic and should not be exposed to babies and children.

Jeno Jacob of the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation said the landfill has resumed operation but at limited capacity.

“The situation at the landfill now is that we are accepting general waste that is household waste. We are not accepting galvanize, we are not accepting wood, or grass,” he said.

Jacob explained that the tire and metal sections will be closed until further notice.

“Hopefully after we have this fire in a satisfactory control, we will open later down this week, but for now we won’t be accepting those items, no wood, no grass, no galvanize, not metal…,” he explained.

On behalf of the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation Jacob apologized to the many stakeholders in the vicinity of the Stockfarm area and the Roseau, “stakeholders like the port and other important departments and facilities who have been impacted by this fire which started late Saturday evening is still blazing but much under control.”

He said that the department will be issuing face masks, protective gear and protective equipment to landfill attendants and workers who will be at the facility today.

“We will also give masks to persons who are coming to dispose general waste to ensure their safety and protection,” he stated.

He thanked the member of the fire department for their hard work.

Meantime, he said investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire.

“Investigations are continuing we are working with the police department…ensuring that we give much information in order to come to the root or cause of that fire because that fire couldn’t have started by itself. Something or someone did play a hand,” Jacob indicated.

He said there is no suspect yet into the cause of that fire.

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10 Comments

  1. Karl Orndem
    February 27, 2019

    i glad. let then see is nonsense they doing in the land fill. measures need to be taken people.

  2. Country Man
    February 26, 2019

    Landfills produce methane which is a combustible fuel. They should be flaring the landfill gas (methane) or using it as a form of energy to reduce the risk of these fire. Solid Waste need to get inline with the program! Stockfarm residents need to be evacuated – Uncontrollable burning of a landfill produces fumes that detrimental to the environment and human life.

  3. Nature island
    February 26, 2019

    It is clear that the landfill has outlived it’s life cycle and is in the wrong location. We cannot have a landfill in an area with the highest urban population and in close proximity to the National Hospital. PLEASE, NO Politics, just logic. We should have at least 2 landfills: one serving North & East, the other South and West. We cannot continue with one landfill in 2019. After the last tire fire, and after Hurricane Maria, a plan should have been drafted and implementation started to relocate, properly manage and regulate our waste in landfills that may also supply renewable energy. See link. Something to consider. https://www.ge.com/reports/post/90597111845/in-search-of-lost-trash-french-landfill-is-using/
    No disrespect to the management of DSWMC, but while Maria created a big challenge, they need a landfill expert to guide them and one in case of evacuation. This could happen in any country, but we need experts as we are a small island and need to be creative. Let’s do it.

    • Hansel
      February 26, 2019

      As much as everything you said is true and should be taken seriously, unfortunately, this is Dominica. As long as someone is at the top of any organisation (including political organisation) they will never truly and fully admit fault, and will NEVER take the advice or a citizen. Something as simple as recycling doesn’t efficiently/properly take place on the island. When you go to the landfill, you only communicate with an employee when you have to pay (and she is rarely n a good mood)…
      ……………
      …………..

  4. Survivor
    February 25, 2019

    This is not unusual.Fires occur in nearly all landfills and they burn for weeks before getting under control. This is no big thing.

  5. Mwen Ka Move
    February 25, 2019

    I have asthma and need to move to fort young. will solid waste or ODM pay. :mrgreen: imagine the chaos if all of stock farm, fond cole, goodwill and potters ville have to move Where to?

    • Neville
      February 26, 2019

      I doubt that the Skerrit regime would agree, in particular if you are not a Labour supporter. Nothing works correctly in DA but at least we are climate resilient! Thanks god for Skerrit!

  6. dissident
    February 25, 2019

    if de premises was broken into by now de security would have confirmed that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    investigations are ongoing they say………..keep de report to yourself!!!

  7. iprotest
    February 25, 2019

    De fire is not fully under control…..

    Investigation you say!!!!!
    You can’t even confirm that someone broke into the compound…… I hope you have cameras to help you do your investigation boss

    Why officials like to treat de common man as simple fools.

  8. Pipo
    February 25, 2019

    How can people who have no part in causing this fire be stakeholders? They are victims. To term them stakeholders.is ridiculous.

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