A fire that broke out at St. Thomas’ Bovoni landfill Sunday night was about "90 percent contained" by Monday afternoon, but fire fighters and Waste Management Authority crews are still monitoring the scene in an attempt to keep small flare-ups at bay, according to one official.
"The fire is not going anywhere, we have it in a confined area," Assistant Fire Service Director Daryl George said early Monday evening. "Once the wind doesn’t pick up again and send it out into the brush, we’ll be fine."
George explained the wind has remained the greatest challenge since Sunday night and has played a "very vital role" in keeping the blaze from being fully extinguished.
A WMA release sent Monday said the landfill will reopen to the general public at 8 a.m. Tuesday after operating under restricted access since Sunday night. However, the release cautioned that haulers and other individuals will be directed to disposal areas away from the burn site.
WMA’s solid waste and contracted haulers will be allowed to access the landfill from 6 a.m. Tuesday, the release said.
All residents entering the landfill are also being asked to follow the directions of the WMA staff or the landfill’s management contractor, A-9 Trucking Enterprises.
George said it may be a few days until everything is back to normal but hopes the fire will be fully extinguished Monday evening.
Along with Waste Management, which continues to monitor the scene, approximately 40 to 45 fire fighters responded Sunday night, George said, adding that there were no major injuries — just some "little bumps and bruises" and some slight damage to a piece of fire equipment.
