Blaze under control

A suspected chemical fire that blanketed the Mighty Grynner Highway with thick, black plumes of smoke is under control but has not been extinguished.

This was the latest report from Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard just before 4 p.m. in an interview with Barbados TODAY.

“More or less it is under control but it’s still a long way from being extinguished. We changed shifts but [we are] utilising limited crews to extinguish the pockets of fires but that will take a while into the evening to do,” he said adding that crews of fire officers would be working well into the night to keep the fire in check.

Maynard said about 20 fire officers, in three tenders, a rescue tender, a CLP (combine ladder platform) tender and a water tanker, under the command of divisional officer Marlon Small and about 15 soldiers from the Barbados Defence Force worked together to get the situation under control.

Members of the Barbados Police Service also rendered assistance to the fire fighters.

Lawmen were alerted to the fire at the commercial property along the busy St Michael artery around 5:49 a.m. on Wednesday. It is owned by Oran Limited and houses the business Double OO.

Police say the fire was suspected to involve chemicals and a formal HAZMAT (Hazardous Materials) response was engaged.

Several police officers sprang into action redirecting both vehicular and pedestrian traffic away from the area.

Officers and firefighters also canvassed the nearby residential area downwind of the fire to warn residents about possible dangers of inhaling the smoke.

However, Maynard said there was no need to evacuate anyone and if residents were concerned about their health they should temporarily leave the area.

“If they are getting any smoke coming at them they should find ways to make themselves safe such as moving out but other than that the surroundings shouldn’t have any major problems.

“For the time being everyone’s fears could be alleviated. It is just like any other fire now. . .”

In his first update on the fire to the media just after 10 a.m. Maynard said the bond house stored various items such as tiles and other building materials, flour and household materials.

Residents in the nearby community said they were taken back by the blaze.

Anderson Belle, whose wife sounded the alarm to him, said he was constantly wetting his house to make sure it did not incur any damage.

Owen Jordan was on his way home in a public service vehicle when he saw the billowing smoke from Eagle Hall, St Michael.

“Getting out by Carlton Supermarket and walking and coming down it was just more smoke and more smoke. We live extremely close to the building and when I got home I saw my father wetting the walls and trees. And the flames were just coming out through the roof . . . So it was somehow surreal because these are things you normally see on television,” he said.

The smoke also resulted in the closure of the Ellerslie Secondary School and the facilities at Brandons Beach.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb