Virgin Gorda Dumpsite Remains Closed as Fire
The Virgin Gorda dumpsite remains closed to the public as emergency teams continue working to contain a stubborn fire that ignited over the weekend. Health authorities have urged nearby residents to remain indoors with windows shut due to heavy smoke spreading across the area.
Emergency response teams are continuing efforts to contain a persistent blaze at the Virgin Gorda dumpsite, prompting government authorities to keep the waste management facility closed to the public until further notice. According to an advisory issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the fire originally started around noon on Saturday, September 26.
In response to the outbreak, the Department of Waste Management mobilized a collaborative operation alongside the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Service and local private contractors to bring the flames under control. Responders carried out extensive smothering operations to extinguish portions of the fire throughout Saturday and worked well into the night.
Despite these containment efforts, the fire continued to burn and generate heavy smoke across the surrounding community. In an update released on Sunday, ministry officials indicated that a broader, coordinated suppression operation was resuming at the site, though no official date for reopening has been established.
This marks the second major fire incident at the Virgin Gorda facility in recent months. The dumpsite was previously shut down after a fire broke out in early July, eventually reopening on July 9 once emergency personnel successfully contained that blaze. To ensure the safety of the public and facilitate active response operations, officials are strongly advising motorists and nearby residents to stay away from the dumpsite.
Keeping the access roads and perimeter clear allows emergency vehicles, water tenders, and heavy machinery to operate without obstruction. Due to the thick smoke drifting into neighboring areas, public health officials are advising residents to stay indoors as much as possible with doors and windows kept tightly closed.
Community members are also urged to avoid outdoor exercise and unnecessary physical activities while smoke conditions remain elevated. Health authorities underscored that vulnerable populations require heightened precautions. Individuals with asthma, cardiovascular conditions, or chronic respiratory illnesses, along with infants, young children, and older adults, should take additional steps to avoid smoke inhalation.
Anyone experiencing severe coughing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea, or an aggravation of existing health conditions is advised to seek medical attention promptly. The Ministry of Health and Social Development stated that it remains in close coordination with emergency personnel on the ground to monitor conditions and will release further updates as containment efforts advance.
Primary source: BVI Government