Fire at the Beetham Landfill lit up the night sky as thick black smoke billowed into the capital city of Port-of-Spain last night. A spokesman at the site said the fire started on the same day an earlier blaze, which started on Friday, was extinguished. Drivers on the nearby Beetham Highway and security personnel and workers at the dump looked on as officers in two national security helicopters monitored from above.
Yesterday’s fire occurred after fires at the same venue affected people and schools in parts of Port-of-Spain for about one week in January this year. An e-mail issued by general manager of sales, marketing and communications at the Solid Waste Management Company (SWMCOL) George Elias said the blaze was detected around 3 pm and was attracting the attention of SWMCOL personnel, who were being assisted by police and the fire services.
Elias said the company apologised to the public for any inconvenience caused by the fire.