Long Island fire 'perilously close to homes'

As of Friday, June 9, 2017

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AUTHORITIES and residents were struggling to extinguish a large fire in Long Island that was said to be raging perilously close to nearby homes on Friday.

Police on the island were informed of the fire around 12noon on Thursday, Long Island MP Adrian Gibson said.

However, by 6pm on Friday police officials in the capital were still waiting for fire-fighting resources to arrive on the island.

Long Island has no fire truck, Mr Gibson said, and residents have had to pool their resources to combat the flames.

Although bush fires are not uncommon on the island, Mr Gibson said this fire is unusually large and dangerous.

"It's a serious blaze in the Hamiltons area of Long Island," he said. "It's a bush fire that's coming extremely close to people's homes. As it stands, it extends 100 feet in one direction and 150 feet in another direction. Local teams comprising Water and Sewerage trucks and persons with heavy equipment, the island administrator, the chief councillor, myself and BEC are all trying to do whatever is in our power to coordinate efforts to contain the fire. I spoke to Minister of National Security (Marvin Dames). He and I have been speaking since yesterday and we're trying to coordinate a team from Nassau to assist with putting the fire out."

Mr Gibson added "People are fearful and it's a concern for Long Islanders that we are finding ourselves in such a state where we're almost helpless. It's unfortunate given the taxes Long Island pays into treasury that we don't have a fire truck or an ambulance. Right now they're trying to contain the fire by using heavy equipment to build up mounds of dirt. Local teams will have to work throughout the night to contain the fire even remotely and avoid destruction of property and lives."

Describing the fire, Mr Gibson said: "This is unusually big. It has caused alarm and folks to be panic-stricken because of how fast it's moving. There has been some consideration (given to) evacuating some folks. My understanding is there hasn't been a large-scale evacuation effort yet but there has been a complaint about smoke inhalation and the air quality, and that's a concern for our people."

Mr Gibson, who will give his first speech in the House of Assembly on Monday during debate on the 2017 budget, said he will lobby hard for a fire truck to be sent to Long Island.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 11 months ago

As a result of hurricanes Irene, Sandy, Joaquin and Matthew, thousands of acres of the island's western coastal areas between Salt Pond and Gordons have been left destroyed by salt water incursion ......... As a result tons of seaweed, dead trees, abandoned boats, gas tanks, construction debris etc. have dried out and with the on-going four month drought is a tinder box ready to explode .......... That is the problem ....... The island needs a few D-8 tractors and at least 2 firetrucks to be on standby for this clear and present danger.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A GOVERNMENT FORSAKES ITS CITIZENS

DDK 6 years, 11 months ago

Government should get at least one fire engine and one ambulance on the way to Long Island, just for starters. What a disgrace.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 11 months ago

BTW .......... God heard our prayers and sent a good rain to wet the bush fire on Saturday ......... God is GOOD!!!!!!!!!!

Sickened 6 years, 10 months ago

By your logic, God the all powerful started the fire as well then. Why weren't you praising him then for sending the fire to turn the dead waste into fertilizer for the land??

Next time there is a hurricane coming I want to read your praises and thanking God for it!

DDK 6 years, 10 months ago

GOOD for the rain!

sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago

God is not to be mocked ......... ask Perry if you do not believe me

observer2 6 years, 11 months ago

I agree 100%. I have been trying to get a D 8 Tractor to clear land for me to build a retirement house on Long Island. Unfortunately, can you believe there is only one D 8 on the island? That tractor can pick, choose and refuse who they want to work for and select the price they charge.

There has been complete silence from the FNM since coming to power. You can't even see the MP. The Deadman's Cay airport is a one room house and can't handle international airlift as it can't meet international standards.

But the FNM will forget about Long Island, like the PLP did, and the previous FNM administration before them.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 11 months ago

TEN POINT PLAN FOR THE INCOMING MP ....... MR. ADRIAN GIBSON:

Extend the central water system to (at least) Clarence Town and Salt Pond and upgrade the Simms R-O facility for Northend. No potable water = No future development.
Upgrade the present Deadman's Cay 4,000ft. airstrip with an additional 3000 feet of runway, a modern terminal facility and a new apron, and paid parking lot for locals and SDs.
Create new mailboat or ferry linkages with Exuma, San Salvador, and MICAL for agriculture, industry and cheaper international freight rates and complete the Clarence Town docking facility with a proper turning basin and complementary port facilities.
Improve the educational system with ONE central senior high school, three primary schools and a technical/special education school, with the requisite personnel & budget that matches the quality education that the island has become known to produce.
Improve and modernize customs, immigration, police, RTD and RBDF facilities and personnel and build ONE central government complex to house these essential services.
Encourage some of Long Island's 100 millionaires to invest in the local economy like Mr. Ellis Major is doing now. Solve the vexing Diamond Crystal Salt 22,000 acres lawsuit issue to encourage at least on major FDI in the South end of the island.
Create an effective local government system with a real mayor and an autonomous, apolitical municipality, capable of retaining at least 75% of non-VAT tax revenue generated on the island and capable of approving the necessary licencing permits to encourage orderly local development.
Create at least three public parks and/or public beach facilities for locals and tourists to enjoy and at least one fish fry area in South and North to encourage social gatherings and entrepreneurship.
Re-open the Long Island Library and Museum and expand the Long Island Cultural Site and Farmers' Market for local and touristic use and invest in the natural, historical and cultural heritage for education and and recreational purposes.
Create at least ONE BNT-managed land and sea park for the preservation of the fish stocks and bird life that is threatened by overfishing and poaching, and to complement the growing bonefish lodge industry.

LONG ISLAND CAN BECOME GREAT AGAIN WITH THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE TEN POINTS.

observer2 6 years, 11 months ago

Great points Sheeprunner12. But nothing will happen. Have you heard? The government is broke both financially and intellectually? The are just rehashing the same old PLP idea and then do nothing.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 11 months ago

If you are a REAL Long Islander, you should be more positive about our prospects going forward ......... Lobby the new MP to implement the Ten Point Plan ....... Come out to local and Diaspora events and be pro-active

Sickened 6 years, 10 months ago

I don't know many specifics about Long Island but those are some great points you are raising. I hope Mr. Gibson can get to at least a few of them each year.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 11 months ago

The Long Island MP will be speaking in Parliament for the first time on Monday ......... You can tune in and see how much he is aware of what is about to take place in Long Island in the upcoming year(s) under the FNM ............ Then we can all make our comments on his speech

themessenger 6 years, 10 months ago

What ever happened to the brand new landing craft purchased at great expense for the RBDF during Operation Sandy Bottom for this express purpose????

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID

The Tribune