By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 12, 2023 – Around 9396.4 square miles of land on Little Water Cay was burned in the two day blaze on the uninhabited islands described by the Department of Environment and Coast Resources, DECR as an “inferno.”

A campfire is believed to be the cause of the destruction. They say it could have spread to Casuarina Duff as it can smolder deeply for days before conditions allow it to generate obvious flame and smoke.

The update came from the DECR on Wednesday afternoon.

“Little Water Cay and Half-moon Bay is a popular site for tour guides and watersports operators to make campfires near the Casuarina forest, for beach cookouts. This activity is believed to have been the cause of the fire on the sandbar this last weekend,” the DECR said.

They explain that fire has threatened the sandbar since the invasion by Casuarina Pine which is very flammable. In addition, “recent habitat restoration efforts have resulted in dry wood on the ground which exacerbated the fire.”

In terms of worry over the native Rock Iguanas that live on the island, the DECR indicated, “The area has not been ideal rock iguana habitat for several years, but some iguanas were living there as the control of non-native mammals has allowed numbers to increase and their occupancy to spread. The fire itself was not problematic to the ecosystem: Although habitat recovery will have to involve control of Casuarina seedlings (which are encouraged by fire and other disturbances), the fire has consumed the fuel that has been a risk for years.”

We were told that when the Cay reopens, iguanas will be able to return and carry out their natural role. The DECR warned that despite the good news it will take time for the natural environment to be back to normal.

“As the non-native species are carefully controlled, the indigenous wildlife will recover over time, and the functional ecosystem (which hasn’t been intact since the introduction of the invasive pine species, cats and rats) will return.”

The press release also reminded that it is a violation of the National Parks Ordinance to set fires within Protected Areas without a permit from the DECR, and DECR does not grant permits for lighting fires in Half Moon Bay or Little Water Cay, due to the high fire risk and sensitive iguana habitat of the cay.