Cox Heath fire finally out

Local authorities are reporting that the three-and-half-week-old fire at the Cox Heath dump on Tortola has finally been extinguished.

“The fire has been extinguished to the point where the emissions of smoke are negligible. The site no longer poses a threat to the immediate vicinity as well as the surrounding areas on all sides of the valley,” said Chief Fire Officer Zebalon McLean in a media release issued late Tuesday, June 5.

He said emergency response personnel and equipment will remain in Cox Heath to sort materials and monitor the site.

Chief McLean further said authorities conducted an assessment in the Towers and West End areas of Tortola and have concluded there is no further smell or sign of smoke.

The fire reportedly started on May 9, resulting in Governor Agustus Jaspert activating the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) a day later.

But, since reports that the fire is extinguished, Governor Jaspert deactivated the NEOC on the advice of Director of the Department of Disaster Management, Sharlene DaBreo.

He deactivated the NEOC at 4:30pm on Tuesday.

Authorities said investigations into the cause of the fire will continue.

However, in a recent interview with BVI News, Fire Chief McLean said the cause of the blaze may never be ascertained.

He said there is a possibility evidence of the origin of the blaze might already have been destroyed.