CAYMAN ISLANDS (GIS) – Landfill Fire Update at 8am on Wednesday, 18 March 2020.

Crews from the Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS) and the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) have worked tirelessly to bring a landfill fire to a safe and swift conclusion.

The fire is now fully extinguished. Smoke is no longer emitting from the site and all hotspots have now been identified and doused.

CIFS officers will remain at the scene throughout today and overnight as a precaution, standing ready in case of any early signs of re-ignition. The RCIPS helicopter will also be deployed today to provide aerial images of the site as another source of information for crews.

Commenting on the incident, Chief Fire Officer, Paul Walker QFSM said, “CIFS and DEH have worked meticulously to resolve this challenging and protracted incident. Taking this approach has greatly reduced the chance of re-ignition across the site.”

He continued, “I anticipate fire officers will no longer be required on site from tomorrow morning. CIFS will continue to work closely with DEH colleagues as usual and have instructed them to inform us as soon as any potential signs of ignition, however small, are identified.”

In closing, Mr Walker said, “I am immensely proud of our crews and partner agencies who have put in great effort to tackle this difficult situation, many of whom working long hours to see the fire to full extinguishment.”