Fire crews douse dump blaze but kit on standby
(CNS): Firefighters have now extinguished the blaze that ignited Thursday in the scrap metal area of the George Town landfill, officials said Monday. But even after Cayman Islands Fire Service operations were shut down at 10pm on Sunday evening, equipment was strategically placed onsite to ensure a quick response if there is a flare-up of burnt materials. The Department of Environmental Health also said it is not allowing any more derelict vehicles into the landfill for two weeks to allow safety work at the site. The focus now is on identifying the cause of the fire, which CIFS said would be fully investigated but it is still too early to speculate on what started it.
“With a large burnt area of mixed metal waste, to establish the ignition source investigators are very reliant on the witness testimony of those working in the area when the fire was discovered,” fire officials stated.
In a press release Monday afternoon, the fire service said crews had worked diligently over the weekend with DEH staff to ensure the mixed metal waste fire was fully extinguished with minimum chance of re-ignition. The DEH will continue to monitor the site throughout the rest of the day, with CIFS officers conducting periodical thermal image temperature checks to ensure an early awareness of any developing hotspots.
The fire was spotted at around 9:30 Thursday morning and crews were quickly on site to tackle the dangerous and noxious fire raging in a huge pile of cars and other mixed metals. Despite getting the main blaze largely under control by Thursday night, deep seated fires continued amidst the scrap materials for several more days.
Meanwhile, the DEH said in a separate release that in order to mitigate the risk of fires it will need to carry out further work and control measures, and has therefore barred the entry of derelict vehicles to the landfill for two weeks until 12 April. Once all safety measures are in place, derelict vehicles will be accepted but only between 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Environmental Health, Health, Local News
Japan’s garbage disposal minimisation projects
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7T2KwNjYisM
Which company has the contract for the recycling ??? Looks to me as if they are not doing their job.
Headline on another story about this reads, ‘No equipment to test dump fire emissions on island.’ Now isn’t that convenient? They can waste $1million on needless Ebola precautions but won’t spend a penny on equipment to monitor the environmental impact and health risks of the fumes and fall out being generated by these fires. Sounds to me like a few people are worried about what might be uncovered?
It was an utterly useless article. They don’t understand the scale of the problem.
#1 you don’t need emission testing equipment to figure out that the Dump’s fires are extremely toxic and who really cares about exact composition of toxic substances. It is extremely hazardous for health, flora and fauna. It contaminates soil and coastal water as well.
Secondly, the article makes it sound that if the equipment is purchased everything will be Hunky-dory.
What article is not addressing that there are no laws that regulate air emissions, no emission standards exist setting limits to toxic substances. If there are no specific emissions limitations set by Law, how pollution control equipment would control it?
To monitor, test and control emissions from fires or incinerators or soon to come (hope not) WTE, not only testing equipment is required, it requires highly experienced and licensed professionals. There are no such professionals in Cayman.
To help you understand the rudimentary state of emissions control in Cayman, take a look at the answers DEH provided:
“While the DEH has provisions in place to monitor the construction and operation of incinerators [ANTIQUATED provisions], the official explained that the regulations do not include the “guidelines indicating what pollutants one should test for”. In addition, the DEH does not have the “necessary equipment to allow for adequate monitoring of such emissions at this time”.
As for when the DEH will be able to test for these emissions, “It is hoped that (the department) will be able to do so in the foreseeable future.”
https://cnslocallife.com/2018/09/emissions-incinerators/
Fair comment 1:52 but where did I say anything about the contents of the article? I was only citing the headline to illustrate part of the problem.
Your ‘#1’ comment makes no sense because the only way to stop this is to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that this is hazardous. Until that happens and people find out this is killing them you won’t move forward.
When CIG starts getting hit with civil actions for deaths and illness caused by the fumes and fall out maybe they’ll be forced to deal with it but right now there’s no monitoring equipment to illustrate the dangers so there’s no evidence to use in court. ‘You don’t need emission testing equipment to figure out that the Dump’s fires are extremely toxic?’ That’s childish rubbish! ‘Figure out,’ ain’t worth spit to a Judge and jury.
As for needing professional personnel to run the monitoring equipment? More rubbish. There’s plenty of modern monitoring equipment that is idiot and tamper-proof, it’s on par skills-wise with the screening kit customs and security use at airports.
Don’t get defensive. I criticized Compass’ article, not yours.
Your last paragraph though is 🙄🙄🙄.
That is why everything is so 🤬 in Cayman because you believe that no education, skills and experience is required for any job. Just push some buttons.
Your last sentence is spot on.
Do you know why there are no equipment to test dump fire emissions on island?
Because the level of incompetence is mind boggling, they, DEH, DoE and CIG fundamentally don’t understand WHY do THEY NEED TO TEST fire emissions, incinerator emissions, or any emissions. Or why Laws regulating air emissions must be enacted.
It is like asking a kindergartener if fire extinguishers at his school are regularly checked.
They are still in the stone age if you ask me.
What a mess