Government, along with the Barbados Private Haulers Association, is working assiduously to quell the fire at the SBRC Transfer Centre, Vaucluse, St. Thomas.
Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod, gave an update of the situation at the centre this afternnon, at the Central Cricket Pavilion, Vaucluse, St. Thomas.
Minister Prescod, along with Minister of Home Affairs, Edmund Hinkson, gave the assurance that after carrying out an in-depth assessment, all of government’s resources were mobilized, so critical provisions could be put in place to mitigate the present challenges being faced in the area.
Minister Prescod stated that during the assessment, and following consultations with the Ministries of Home Affairs and Health and Wellness, the Environmental Protection Department, the Office of the Attorney General, SBRC and the Barbados Private Haulers Association, a decision was made to put simultaneous measures in place to reduce the effects of the fire.
Chief Fire Officer, Errol Maynard, who is the Chief Operating Officer over the efforts to contain the fire, stated: “We’ve concluded that we have to bring in some heavy equipment and some top soil to smother this fire.
“The fire service will take, as usual, the lead in this operation, and we will be using a number of vehicles from the Barbados Private Haulers Association to haul the top soil to extinguish this fire, and we’re hoping that we will be able to get it extinguished within a reasonable time.”
Chief Executive Officer at Williams Industries, Andre Walcott, stated that the fire occurred from combustion, and the Barbados Fire Service within minutes was on site.
He said: “Private haulers would be collecting top soil from various quarries across the island…and the recent showers were assisting the efforts, as the rain provided moisture to the soil, which is assisting in suppressing the fire.”
Polyclinics in the area and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have been placed on notice to assist anyone who might be affected by the effects of smoke, as a result of the fire.