Heavy smoke from city dump triggers emergency response

Health ministry urges caution as smoke blankets city

Kimmo Matthews

Friday, February 10, 2012

THICK plumes of smoke covered large sections of the Jamaican capital yesterday as a fire at the Riverton City Landfill raged for a fourth day, posing a health risk to tens of thousands of residents.

The severity of the smoke hazard resulted in the Ministry of Health advising residents of Kingston and St Andrew and sections of St Catherine, particularly those living in the immediate vicinity of the Riverton Landfill, to take the necessary action to protect themselves until the fire and associated smoke are brought under control by emergency teams engaged by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

Yesterday, despite the efforts of the emergency response agencies, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) estimated that the fire, that started on Monday, should be brought under control in 72 hours.

The agency also said it expected that complete abatement of the smoke would be addressed in five days, along with total clean-up and restoration.

The ODPEM, in collaboration with the NSWMA, also activated a Command and Control Centre at the NSWMA Headquarters on Half-Way-Tree Road to strengthen the co-ordination of its response.

The agencies involved in the co-ordination include the Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Constabulary Force, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the NSWMA, the National Water Commission, the National Works Agency, the Ministry of Health and the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

The ODPEM said a ground command had been established at the landfill since Tuesday and was being spearheaded by the Fire Brigade.

Yesterday, dozens of residents from communities around the Riverton Landfill complained that since the start of the week their children were suffering from respiratory problems.

“We cannot continue like this; something will have to be done,” said Sandra Smith, who spoke to the Observer on Washington Boulevard.

A resident of Patrick City complained that since Monday he has had to take his son, who suffers from asthma, to hospital several times.

Anthony Wood, CEO of the Bustamante Hospital for Children, told the Observer that since the start of the week, health officials there had seen an increase in the number of patients reporting respiratory problems.

However, he said he was unable to link the increase to the problem at the dump.

In its news release yesterday, the health ministry advised that “Landfill fires emit a variety of pollutants that have the potential to affect the health of the persons exposed to the smoke”.

Affected persons, the ministry said, may experience headache, dizziness, irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing and other symptoms.

The health ministry also encouraged residents to avoid or reduce exposure to smoke by closing windows and doors and remain indoors as much as possible. This is especially so for those persons who suffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions, the elderly and young.

The ministry also advised residents to avoid exposing laundry outdoors since these can become contaminated.

Meanwhile, NEPA will be providing periodic updates on the ambient air quality from three monitoring stations — Cross Roads, the Cement Company and Half-Way-Tree.

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COMMENTS (4)

Handel Waugh
2/10/2012

We will never have a cessation of Landfill fires until we learn to have a smarter landfill; where ignitable methane gas is harnessed; where a culture of separation of organic, metals, plastics, glass and tires are instilled and maintained; and a the Jamaican populace understands the need to reduce, reuse and recycle as national identity.

D T
2/10/2012

This is not the first time this has happened, yet we learned nothing for previous fires. Why is it taking so long to get under control. Why are the people in the area not given medical help or relocated. the toxic fumes can and will cause serious health problems to many people. I have to believe we are better than this.

STEPHANIE W
2/10/2012

Mr. Wood can't be sure the increase in respiratory problems is from the smoke?!?! GTFOH..it absolutely has to do with the smoke. Asthmatics can be irritated by a number of things, however, when you have an increase overall with many asthmatics and severe amounts of air pollution happening by the minute, you can't deny it's reason. Many in JA have no clue how horrible it is what is happening, burning plastics, pcb's, lead, asbestos, chemically treated wood, etc. They need assistance now

wanda woeman
2/10/2012

Is this a part of the grieving process? If so what stage are we in? Is it SHOCK? We know the DENIAL came soon after; but is this now ANGER? There seems to be no BARGAINING in the equation but since Jamaica is the country we all love and are supposed to be putting first isn’t this what we should be defending? It could be DEPRESSION though. It seems ACCEPTANCE is a long way away.
Whatever we do though we should remember that people’s lives are at stake here. It is not healthy for anyone to be inhaling these plumes of smoke. Education has already taken a hit, since children had to be sent home from school.

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Heavy smoke from city dump triggers emergency response