The origin of a large fire that swept through the Virgin Gorda dumpsite on September 26 remains unknown, District Nine Representative and Minister for Health and Social Services Vincent O. Wheatley said in a statement released on October 2.
The blaze ignited in the active waste area along the outer edge of the facility, sending heavy smoke across the island and triggering a major response from the Department of Waste Management, Fire and Rescue Services, and partner agencies.
Fire crews deployed heavy equipment to bury and compress the burning refuse under soil, cutting off oxygen to the flames. Water trucks arrived to spray the zone and extinguish smaller pockets of fire. With backup machinery and staff brought in from Tortola, teams maintained suppression and cooling work until the fire was fully out by the evening of Monday, September 28.
No one was hurt and no site equipment was destroyed. After inspectors cleared the dumpsite as safe, normal operations restarted.
Wheatley acknowledged the toll on residents. "I fully recognise the concern, discomfort, and frustration caused by this incident, particularly for residents of Virgin Gorda and for persons in communities on the eastern side of Tortola who were also affected by the smoke," he said. He added that as both the health minister and the Virgin Gorda representative, he takes such matters seriously and lives in the community himself.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development and the Department of Waste Management plan to examine what happened and put safeguards in place to prevent future fires. The DWM is keeping watch over the site as a safety step. Both bodies will study the facility's state and work out ways to boost prevention, surveillance, and management practices.
Wheatley thanked the Department of Waste Management, Fire and Rescue Services, the Ministry of Communications and Works, the Water and Sewerage Department, and all contractors and staff who took part in the response.
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