Smoggy start to Commonwealth Day for thousands in Providenciales; Dump fire behind the “horrible” conditions

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, March 11, 2024 – Monday, March 12 dawned bleak and smoggy in areas of Providenciales because of the effects of a massive fire at the dump over the weekend.  It’s been described as an “environmental disaster,” by residents enduring the blanketing smoke and is also labelled, ‘one of the worst’ instances of fire and resulting smoke in the area.

It was a hotspot, discovered by a team from the Environmental Health Department that caused the blaze.

”The fire originated from a fire extinguishing exercise and was triggered by a hotspot flare up. During the early morning on Saturday, March 9, 2024, TCI Green Ecological Corporation Limited, the new management company of the solid waste management facility, identified a hotspot flare up in the northwestern area of the landfill site. Swift action was taken by alerting the Domestic Fire Service and other supporting agencies to contain the situation,” said Kyle Knowles Minister for Public Safety and Utilities and Member of Parliament for Wheeland and West Caicos around 12:30 p.m. Monday.

By that time the smoke was thankfully clearing, but the morning and the night before had been horrific for residents.

“The struggle is real,” one resident said, “driving through the smoke this morning— people who live in Phase Two, I feel for you all this morning. I live all the way in the back (of the housing subdivision) and I can smell it. With the dew and smoke this morning that means you all can taste it. For anybody with respiratory problems, God be with y’all. ”

The resident inferred the possibility that the cool wet early morning air was trapping the smoke. It’s not hard to imagine that the Monday morning phenomenon was smog, a fog made heavier and thicker by smoke or chemicals.

Photos were shared of the black low hanging smoke literally blanketing roadways and smothering shrubs and bushes.

Other residents were shocked at the reach of the smog and concerned about vulnerable residents’ health .

“This is the worst it has ever been. Blankets of thick, dense, awful smelling smoke have covered both phases. The toxic smoke will definitely affect the quality of life for the people in this community,” said a resident.

Medical complaints quickly arose  as well.

“This needs to be a major headline mainly because of the health implications on young children and the elderly—Coughing, burning eyes, serious respiratory problems,” our team was told.

The affected area was widespread, reports from residents implicated, Chicken Shack; Phase Two; Millenium Highway; Blue Hills; Downtown; Five Cays and Phase One.

“The EHD wishes to advise the residents of Providenciales, especially those living in the Wheeland Phase 2 area, that the Department and TCI Green Ecological are urgently addressing the current fire at the disposal site with the assistance of all stakeholders. As of this Press Release, the fire has been approximately 85% contained. Residents are reminded to keep doors and windows closed to avoid any potential exposure to smoke while the fire is being brought under control,” said the Department of Environmental Health just before 1 p.m. on Monday.

TCI Green Ecological Corporation, the new managers of the Dump who took over just under a week ago, on Tuesday March 5th, had issued a statement on Sunday.

“Yesterday morning, at approximately 7:00 am, our team detected a hotspot flare-up in the northwestern section of the landfill. We acted promptly, alerting emergency services, and initiating our containment procedures. The situation was brought under control with the assistance of Environmental Health and supportive local agencies. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of all involved, the landfill resumed operations the next day.”

Despite the assurances, residents were furious with the situation.

Minister Knowles pleaded with residents for understanding, reminding them that extinguishing services were not a one off and the exercises would continue until June as scheduled.

“Ongoing extinguishing and remediation activities should be anticipated. However, every effort will be made to minimize and promptly address any potential effects such as hotspot flare ups, which could escalate into larger fires.”

The government has not given any indication on how it will handle any medical claims arising from the fire which is only the latest in years of similar experiences.