Linden fire: 95% of fire contained; authorities continuing to monitor situation – sawmill owner

More than a week after fire started behind a sawmill in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10, the blaze is about 95 per cent contained, according to the owner of the establishment, Amar Chetram, who added that the authorities are continuing to monitor the situation. When contacted on Friday, Chetram revealed that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), along with assistance from the Government, had been dousing the fire with sand with the aim of suppressing the flames. He stated that although the fire had not been completely extinguished, the situation had improved and the blaze was currently under control.

“So, the smoke basically was heading west, and we are located to the north, which is toward the public road, so we weren’t affected too much by the smoke. But because of the size of the fire, we could still feel the heat all the way down at our complex. The guys from the fire service came and laid sand on the fire, which is helping to put it out. The fire hasn’t been halted 100 per cent, but it’s manageable right now,” he said.
Additionally, he stated that while some smoke is still present, it is minimal and no longer a major concern. He noted that firefighters have been making regular visits to the site, particularly during the evenings when wind conditions are calmer. During these visits, they continue to apply water to the affected areas to prevent any flare-ups. The fire service has been consistently monitoring the situation and maintaining a strong presence at the location, which he said has been helpful in keeping the fire under control. He further remarked that there is currently no pungent smell emanating from the area, unlike during a similar incident last year when smoke from the fire produced a strong odour.
Chetram also revealed that he had previously raised concerns with authorities about waste being dumped in the area. He explained that a few weeks earlier he had written to the forestry authorities and also contacted an official named Hussein to alert them about the growing issue. According to him, individuals had been bringing and discarding materials at the location despite his objections. He noted that when he attempted to stop them, some claimed they had been granted permission by Government officials to dispose of their waste there, which resulted in the area being used as an informal dumping site.
He stressed that he had asked the authorities to intervene and put an end to the problem. The owner of the sawmill explained that fires in areas where wood is stored can pose serious dangers to everyone nearby. He noted that when fire breaks out around large quantities of wood, it creates a hazardous situation for those in the vicinity, particularly because of the smoke and the potential spread of flames.
According to the owner, while the fire did affect the property, they were not severely impacted since their operations are positioned closer to the front of the premises, whereas the blaze was concentrated toward the back of the sawmill.
However, he acknowledged that smoke from the fire still posed some challenges.
The fire started last week, and according to Linden Town Clerk Lennox Gasper, it did not pose any immediate threat to nearby residents. He had confirmed that the area where the fire started was used for the disposal of waste material. A similar fire incident occurred in April last year when emergency response teams were mobilised to battle a blaze at the Waaldijk Sawmill in Amelia’s Ward. The fire, which broke out on the evening of April 9, was eventually contained but took hours to fully extinguish.