Nassau, Bahamas – The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) wishes to advise the public that they had a fire on Monday March 10th at the WSC Septage and Sludge Facility which is near to the public landfill off Harrold Road. The current fire at the public landfill is not related to their fire.

Staff assigned to the Septage and Sludge Facility reportedly heard a crackling sound in the lagoon nearest to the Operations Building and upon investigation discovered a fire in the lagoon area. The Fire Department was immediately alerted to the fire. As a result of a site assessment, Fire Services Head Superintendent Walter Evans and his team are allowing the fire to burn itself out.

Neither the Operations Building nor WSC equipment were threatened by the fire, however, there is a possibility given the intensity of the heat that the liner may have been damaged in one or more locations. Once the fire is fully extinguished, WSC will have an opportunity to carry out a full survey of the site to determine the extent of the damage.

Regular septage and sludge disposal operations at the Facility resumed on Tuesday March 11th.

WSC has been in contact with the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) to update them on the status of the fire. Additionally, besides our own staff, 24 hour security guards have been placed at the site to monitor the situation until such time as it is fully resolved. It is expected that the Fire Department will conduct a full investigation, if required, to determine the cause of the fire once conditions allow.