Linden fire: EPA hints at relocation of sawmills amid ongoing ‘disaster’

It is now a week since a massive fire broke out at the Waaldijk Sawmill in Amelia’s Ward, Linden. During a recent visit to the fire site, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Kemraj Parsram made the call for the relocation of sawmills in Linden.

To prevent such disasters in the future, Parsram stated that the EPA plans to collaborate with sawmills, the Guyana Forestry Commission and Regional Authorities.

“We need to come together and one of the key things, we need to identify [is] alternative locations for dumping of sawmill waste in the region as well as garbage,” Parsram said.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel Nazrul Hussain along with Parsram recently travelled to Linden to assess the situation.

The fire, which started last Wednesday, continues to burn but has been successfully contained to a gully behind the sawmill.

Firefighters had to excavate many trenches around the blaze and worked to prevent it from spreading to surrounding residential areas.

Sand was also brought in to suppress the flames further.

While the fire remains active within the isolated zone, there is no current threat of it spreading further.

However, smoke from the blaze continues to pose serious health risks to residents nearby, especially those living near the Obama Drive area.

“The issue is the smoke, so we have staff right now on the ground monitoring the concentration of carbon monoxide to see if it impacts residents, some residents because of their sensitivity they have expressed that their eyes are burning, those that are asthmatic are affected of course.

“The CDC is working on relocating some of those vulnerable population but the key thing is that we measure the concentration and it is not exceeding the world health standards,” Parsram highlighted.

While the CDC has identified shelter locations in case full evacuation becomes necessary, some residents are reluctant to leave due to concerns over the security of their homes.

Water for household use and drinking have been distributed since Saturday, as the smoke has contaminated water sources in the area.

Prime Minister Phillips described the situation as a disaster.

“From government’s standpoint, we will facilitate all the equipment, all the resources that are required by the Fire Service, CDC and the private operators who I must say are very instrumental and I must commend them for the work they have done, mobilising resources and doing all the work around the clock to contain the fire in one area,” the Prime Minister said.

He assured residents that the government is also working to ensure that the situation is rectified ahead of the upcoming Linden Town Week activities.

“I would like to see the fire dealt with and out before Town Week Activities,” PM Phillips stated.