There’s concern this morning about the environmental impact of the bush fires which have razed large acreages of farmland and other hilly sections of Jacks Hill in St. Andrew over the past 24 hours. One environmentalist is warning that there will be implications for air quality in the Corporate Area.
Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Environment Trust, Diana McCauley, says the fires in a wide section of the hills overlooking Kingston have made a bad situation worse: There were several anxious moments last night for residents of Jacks Hill and surrounding areas in St. Andrew as massive bush fires spread uncomfortably close to houses and other properties.
A house in an informal settlement near Tavistock was destroyed. The fire is believed to have started at that location. Fire personnel along with Jamaica Defence Force helicopters transporting water battled the fires in other communities including Ivor, Cassia Ridge and Westphalia.
Three units responded to the fires which started about 10 o’clock in the morning and later spread due to heavy winds.
And up to early this morning some of the fires were still burning along Jacks Hill Road and in Cassia Ridge. Fire personnel said others had been extinguished.
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Fires under control in St. Andrew hills as air quality becomes a concern
