Fire officials probe burning claims

Local fire authorities have uncovered evidence of indiscriminate burning of refuse in St Patricks, Christ Church and they are intensifying investigations into the matter which could lead to prosecution by the authorities if the situation warrants it.

Following up on a story highlighted in the January 25 edition of Barbados TODAY, in which a 43-year-old asthmatic mother living at Bird’s Eye Ridge complained that she felt as if she was slowly dying after more than six years of being subjected to an “uncaring” neighbour’s indiscriminate burning of refuse, fire officials stepped in.

In revealing the findings of that probe on Friday, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Henderson Patrick said his department is now forced to take the issue much further than he may have anticipated.

“I think that I will have to take that a little further in the sense that there seems to be something going on there that could be causing some problems,” he said.

Patrick had promised an investigation into the matter, pointing out that anyone who did any burning on their property without the permission of the Barbados Fire Service, did so illegally and could be brought before the law courts.

“One of the things that we discovered is that people seem to be burning wire to get the copper and things like that. We also discovered that the incidents occurred not only in one particular location,” he told Barbados TODAY.

The Deputy Chief said they have advised the residents if the burning happens again that they should contact the department immediately, so officials could see first-hand.

He explained that when the investigating officer went to the scene just over a week ago, nothing was happening.

“I want to pursue that a little further by getting the Environmental Department onboard with it, and perhaps the Barbados Police Service. But we have to have an incident occurring to be able to do something,” the senior fire official declared.

“We did take a look at it. We understood what the residents were going through, but there was no active incident when we visited there,” Patrick stated.

Asked if fire authorities were looking to prosecute, the deputy chief said: “We actually have to look and see what is happening first…because, if you are burning copper in the area, I want to examine what impact it is having on the environment and particularly the residents of the area. Then if there is something done illegally, that matter will be addressed accordingly by the appropriate authorities that have jurisdiction.”

He added: “We can only do something when there is an active incident.”

Melissa Wiltshire, speaking on behalf of the residents of Bird’s Eye Ridge in St Patricks had complained that despite calls to the Fire Service and the Barbados Police Service they had not been able to get any relief over the years.

She was also worried about the “severe” impact of the large amounts of medication she is forced to take, because of the constant smoke inhalation.

“I cannot keep taking almost 20 tablets, steroids and a Turbuhaler and all sorts of things because somebody is inconsiderate,” she said during an interview 10 days ago.

There have been no reports of burning since the Barbados TODAY story was first published. (EJ)