It was the latest in a series of infernos that has challenged Fire Services over the last few weeks.
The fire, which raged near houses adjacent to the Texaco Service Station on Joe Farrington, started at the recycling site, after a spark from a welding tool reportedly sparked a full-fledged blaze among flammable liquids and scrap metal on the property
Thick plumes of dark, black smoke blanketed the area and could be seen from miles away, even as far as the East West Highway. It left many residents worried who were at home at the time.
As the plumes of smoke became increasingly overwhelming, authorities moved to close a portion of Joe Farrington and Pine Yard roads and diverted traffic through a side corner.
Three fire trucks raced to the scene after the fire department received the call about the blaze which, at one point, also lead to an explosion.
Howard Hepburn, supervisor in charge of the recycling facility, told The Bahama Journal that the blaze started around 10:30 yesterday morning.
According to Mr. Hepburn, an employee was cutting iron with a blowtorch, when the ground where he was working caught afire.
“The guy didnﾴt know that the ground was saturated with some kind of flammable liquid,” Mr. Hepburn explained. “We were in the middle of it when it ignited but we were lucky enough to get out. Myself and the 20 workers here at the centre were able to get away safely.”
The resources of the fire department have been stretched to the limit because of the slew of fires that have been happening recently. A blaze at the city dumpsite along the Sir Milo Butler Highway was among them.
However, the officer in charge of the fire department, Assistant Superintendent Jeffery Deleveaux, gave an assurance that whatever the blaze his team is capable of bringing it under control.
The potential for further explosions at the site was a primary concern. Finding an available and adequate water source was another. There were no fire hydrants in the immediate area and fire officers had to activate a relay system from the nearby Sea Breeze Canal.
“The situation was very challenging for us,” ASP Deleveaux said. “When we arrived, there was one unit and some nine officers at work. We have old, derelict vehicles; you name it and itﾴs down in there. Itﾴs challenging, itﾴs a health problem, but we had to work around it.”
He pointed out that if there was no canal nearby, firefighters would have been forced to evacuate the area because there was a number of liquefied petroleum gas cylinders around and trucking in water would not have worked.
“But seeing that we were able to relay water from the (Sea Breeze) canal, it minimizes the danger,” the chief fire officer said.
It was the fear about the potential for such a disaster that disturbed a number of residents in the area.
The fire department responded to calls about 49 fires around the island within the last week, more than 20 of which occurred over the weekend. There were 10 building fires, three vehicle fires, seven bush fires, 12 rubbish fires, two electrical and one special service fire.
By Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
