Videos: Pembroke Dump On Fire
[Updated] As of 8pm this evening [Mar.29] there is smoke pouring from what appears to be the dump in Pembroke, with the smoke being seen for miles away. Details are limited at the time, but we will update as able.
Update 8.25pm: The fire is spreading…fire personnel are on scene, with more continuing to arrive.
Marsh Folly and Palmetto Road is beginning to fill up with spectators. The fire continues to spread, and the fire service appears to be calling in additional personnel. Smoke can be seen and smelled for miles away.
Update 8.42pm: There are two piles of horticultural waste on fire, spanning hundreds of feet. Photo slideshow below:
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Update 9.01pm: Live video stream from the Pembroke Dump below [replay now playing]
Update 11.08pm: Fire Chief Vince Hollinsid is on the scene, as is Minister of Public Works Michael Weeks. Minister Weeks said that a decision has not been made about evacuating homes nearby, however CedarBridge Academy was being readied in case. We have also been made to understand the Bermuda Regiment has offered their assistance if needed. Over 15 fire trucks responded to the call, from all ends of the island, with dozens of personnel involved.
Update 11.23pm: A statement just issued by Government follows below:
he Hon. Michael Weeks J.P., M.P., Minister of Public Works this evening advised of a fire breaking out at Marsh Folly Composting Facility in Pembroke.
Emergency services including Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) and the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) responded to a call about the fire and are on the scene with Minister Weeks working to contain the situation.
Minister Weeks advised that Cedarbridge Academy will be made available should any residents affected by the fire need to evacuate.
Minister Weeks said: “We are taking this situation very seriously and our top priority is to ensure the safety of area residents. Cedarbridge Academy has been made available should any residents affected by smoke need to evacuate to a safe place. We will update the public as this situation develops, but I urge people to stay clear of the area and allow the emergency services to carry out their work.”
Minister Weeks advised that the Hon. Paula A. Cox, J.P., M.P., Premier and Minister of Finance and other area MPs are lending their support to ensure the residents in the area are safe during this most unfortunate time. Together, they are urging residents to stay vigilant and inside as much as possible.
Minister Weeks added: “I must commend the excellent work of BFRS Chief Vince Hollinsid and his team for doing such a great job and staying calm under pressure. The Bermuda Police Service is also to be commended for keeping the area clear and traffic flowing.”
Update 11.51pm: Palmetto Road has just been opened to traffic
Update 12.20am: Chief Fire Officer Vincent Hollinsid speaking at the scene, saying they had 17 fire vehicles, and 60-70 personnel on scene, including off duty firefighters who were called in. He said there were two areas of horticultural waste on fire – one measuring 50ft x 60ft, the other measuring approximately 60ft x 200ft.
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again????
how the hell is the dump on fire again!!!????
Hellfire! Bermudians should fear it more.
Roger is not around so they can’t blame him anymore for the overtime……
Use the helicopter get an aerial photo..LoL!!
Rome is burning.
And they wanna put a park their with all that combustion under ground there. Not saying that is the cause but. IDK.
I see fire truck after fire truck coming out of the East End so they must be getting help from all the stations island-wide. At least four trucks (I only physically saw four after first hearing lots of sirens and going to look so two or more could have passed at once before I looked out) and the fire chief car have gone by my house.
Please don’t let this be a repeat of last time people. People ere camped out near the dump with lawn chairs, coolers and snacks-NO EXAGGERATION-watching trash burn. Only in Bermuda.
Oh-just heard another siren but it didn’t sound like a fire truck but I can’t be sure. Let me go and see who else passes by…
Yes-I know I’m being pokey and what?!
LOL! Lawn chairs and snacks??? Gotta love my fellow Bermudians! LOL!
The Idiots should be watching their homes. Great night for prowlers with the police occupied.
Been watching dump fires since I was a wee one. Won’t be heading that way tonight but I’m appreciating all the outstanding pictures. Praying for the safety of all those involved in trying to combat what appears to be a monster of a fire. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think some of these pictures were volcanic eruptions!
Be smart with your spectating people.
We live along shelly bay and can see the fire from here. It’s certainly a large fire, and the sky is orange with a lot of smoke, also lots of fire engines going past obviously from all points over the island to attend to it. I’m assuming that this wind is not helping matters much. I hope that everyone living around there is safe and will come to no harm.
again, Damn Oh well what can you do
NOT A GREAT NIGHT FOR A DUMP FIRE LOTS OF WIND GREAT SHOTS BERNEWS!!!!!!
Not surprised.
That’ll burn itself out in a week or two.
I just picked up a curry from the HOI, very big fire, much much bigger than I remember last time.
It’s gonna burn for a while methinks.
We don’t need no water let that m……….r burn .
Can you imagine what HELL would be like?
Man oh man what a reminder that is. Bermuda is gone to the dumps and there will be hellfire to pay if we dont get our acts together.
Oh no. Be safe to all my firefighters out there. I was wondering who would be burning anything in all this wind. Now coming on here I know now where the smell is coming from.
hope everyone safe that live in the area…i can see it burning bright as ever from my porch. lotta smoke too.
bring out de marshmellows lol
SMH! Does this happen every year?!? They should have a hoiday and a big event called “The Annual Dump Fire” and have special performences by bda fire service and a water show with the trucks over the dump!
KIDD you put the u in stupid. Would you perform the JUMP OVER THE FLAME ACT? I thought the last A$$ that spoke belonged to Baalam.
I don’t envy those poor firefighters tonight, especially with all that wind. Hopefully, no homes will be affected and there won’t be any injuries.
And they moved the trailer looking offices and gas station right next to the dump down in the valley. To get to the offices you need to drive through the gas station… whose bright idea was that????
Pray for rain!, Lots of rain! and the winds to subside!
Our prayers are with the fire fighters and all the special services personell who is helping to combat this blaze,also to the surounding neighborhoods that will be greatly effected by the smoke.
So Bermuda we can differ on many things but we can all Pray for the safety of our country and it’s people, Thank you for considering those who are on the frontline of this devistation.
AMEN
I WAS PLAYING IN A SOFTBALL GAME TONIGHT AND WE SAW THE FIRE START.. AND IT SPREAD FAST!! THE NIGHT STARTED OUT CHILLY BUT THE HEAT COMMING FROM THE FIRE WARMED US RIGHT UP
HOPE IT GETS PUT OUT FAST!
Dear LORD bless this neighbourhood !
KEEP ALL FIRE FIGHTERS AND PUBLIC SAFE !
METHANE GAS ANYONE!!!!!!!
As a 30 yr veteran firefighter, I spent many a long night at that dump fighting fires so i don’t miss it. Please remember the firefighter and if possible please take them some bottle water, drinks, maybe soup and sandwiches. They will be there for a while.
There is a system in place for getting refreshments to the firefighters on long drawn out fires but sometimes it takes a while before those system wheels get turning.
Please do what you can to show them that you care.
Tourism Initiative………….reintroduce Guy Fawkes by a referendum and then have our version of Nevada’s “The Burning Man.”…….Once a year fly to Bermuda for our own “Marsh Follies IRIE MON!!” Getting it all started with the throwing of the Blunt…..pon de Fire,Fire,Fire……problem solved.
thats your government for u how long the mechanics been broken that stirs all that up a while now n they still haven’t fixed it but i guess thats not important to them but taking our money is to spend on BS i hope everyone stays safe
“Minister Weeks advised that the Hon. Paula A. Cox, J.P., M.P., Premier and Minister of Finance and other area MPs are lending their support to ensure the residents in the area are safe during this most unfortunate time. Together, they are urging residents to stay vigilant and inside as much as possible”"
Cox is not on the island!!!!
it is amazing how the govt have not figured this one out! the country dump agricultural waste there, the waste builds up over time it creates METHANE gas, when the gas build up it escapes and all it needs is just a trigger and there goes marsh folly DUMP! it should be called METHANE FOLLY DUMP! ! it is not rocket science !
METHANE GAS PEOPLE !!!
LET THE PEOPLE KNOW!
IN AMERICA THEY HARVEST THE METHANE GAS FROM THEIR DUMPS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE!
Does Bermuda have the resources to handle a fire of this size with this wind? I can’t see them dealing with it but good job none the less BFS.
the fire service get to use all their toys tonite…….. Be safe out there guys
I GUESS NOBODY WILL EVER SEE MY COMMENTS
Check on the Seniors and young. Breathing is going to be difficult. Please move all the children and Seniors west of the fire. The smoke is dangerous to those which respiratory issues. Asthmatics put the Ventolin in now.
WE ALL SO BE PRAYING FOR RAIN RAIN RAIN!!!! IT WILL HELP EVERYONE TONIGHT!!!! IT WILL HELP TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, IT WILL EASE THE WIND AND IT WILL HELP OUR TANKS (for thoses who are not directly in the fire or winds path)NEEDLESS TO SAY, LET PRAY PRAY FOR LONG, HARD RAIN!!!!!
How can something like this happen again, after the last one….. what about the people that live in the area… they deserve better. This should NEVER happen again. Dear people that have breathing problems, young children, and the elderly, please take care and do what you have to do to look after yourselves. This is disgusting, it should not have happened AGAIN.
and it will happen again, there’s a lot of heat under that mound, add in the warm weather and little rain. Lack of water is the biggest contributor, then there’s the fact waste just sits there building up and not being mulched down and spread(as its supposed to, have all the machinery there) so it decomposes faster and releases the build-up of methane gas.
Please everyone be safe, god bless those firemen and women out there working to keep Bermuda nad her people safe…everyone in the neighbourhood please be safe..i wish everyone to be safe during this time, and please dont let it spread to anyones home as no one needs this at this time….
3. O Clock in the morning. Can’t sleep, can’t sleep. 3. O Clock in the morning Pembroke Dump is still burning. It’s raining now I’m sleeping now. God bless the BFS.
Still burning?! Wow, I thought it was out by now…
Its about 3:00 a.m. and Hallelujah! I hear rain, the power of prayer! Our fire fighters need a break. God bless them.
Some thoughts……
Composting material generates a lot of heat and much of the composting agricultural waste at our dump has garbage in it, plastics, metal, rubber, paper, etc. It is a wonder that more fires have not occured before this from the smouldering composting material. Methane eruptions may have contributed, but for two separate areas to be on fire concurrently is very odd and highly suspicious. The piles of agricultural wastes were very high, you tend to wonder how long it would take to decompose. Controlled burning is one way.
Like smoke from the HWP fire affected the homes near it, home owners down wind from the Dump fire (the largest I have ever seen because the high wind did not help) need to get away from inhaling the chemical laden smoke and stop up their roof gutters so that when it does rain, the smoke residue (with chemicals from all of the combusted plastics, metal, rubber, paper, etc.) does not wash down into their tanks and they end up drinking the dissolved chemicals. No one knows for sure, but this could have long term health affects….an epidemiology story in the making.
As it is raining now, it might be a bit late to stop up gutters. I am sure the Department of Health will issue a statement regarding the same…..warning area residents not to drink their tank water for now. Perhaps tank water samples will be tested. I might have missed it, but I still have not heard of any results from tank samples surrounding the HWP fire in Pembroke. And remember this fire had asbestos residue.
God Bless Us
Power of prayer??? Rain was in tonight’s forecast for the past 3 days.
LMAOOOO exactly
Where is LaVerne? The great explainer, defender, all knowing. We need to hear from you.
Three things ae required for a fire, combustible material, heat and oxygen.
Composting horticultural waste already has heat and combustible material, just takes the infusion of oxygen at the critical time of the process…last time it was a bulldozer turning the simmering piles over, oxygen got in and whammo…
There shouldn’t be a ot of toxic mateial in those piles, they examine your load when you dump hort. waste to make sure it doesn’t contain anything nasty. The plastic bags used to come from the cruise ships with food waste, they were supposed to be biodegradable.
Makes me wonder, did the big tub grinders break down again and the stuff piled up too high? I’m not on the Island right now, but I’ve dumped a lot of trees up there!
The compost I have picked up (a truck load) had broken bottles, rubber tires, wire, metal and plastic (thick recyclable pieces and bags), and other debris that I had to sift (the pile was large) out before putting in the garden. I do not think the loads are examined close enough. Also, it has been recommended that compost from Pembroke Dump not be used for gardens with edible crops. Only for ornamental plants or lawns. There must be a reason.
It’s 3:45am & we have been awakened by the smell of smoke throughout the house, Our throats are dry with the taste of smoke. I can’t imagine what it’s like living close to the fire. Everyone, please e safe! God bless the BFS for working hard to keep us safe.
Whole valley, east of the dump, was just filled with smoke. Woke me up cause I couldn’t breath. Visability was almost none. Its better now. Gone for a drive to get some fresh air.
I agree its the methane gas which is the problem along with the right weather conditions to start the fire. Yesterday was very dry,windy and warm. All key ingredients in a potential fire. This is a potentially dangerous situation for all concerned not only residents but emergency personnel dealing with such a fire of this magnitude. I feel this horticultural waste dump needs to be looked into considering safety measures especially as it is close to residences! I hope there were no injuries to personnel or residents!
Prayer is not going to put out any fires. Whoever is praying they are just wasting their time. Also for person who made the statement “imagine what Hell must be like.” How ironic is it that GOD supposedly created Hell. THANKS to the Bermuda Fire Service NOT GOD!
Unclenick you can belive what you choose to.
I am tired of people on here, comments putting politics into every stories comments. I am for neither party but how is the government responsible for the dump fire. Don’t see America blaming the government for their yearly wildfires…be safe Bermuda Fire Service and Good Luck
TIME TO TURN ‘THE DUMP’ INTO A MAJOR METHANE BIOGAS PRODUCTION SITE THAT WOULD SUPPORT OUR ENERGY SUPPLY!!! The source of vegetation is endless and plentiful – established fact. Dr. Kamarakafego recommended this 40 years ago to the Parliament – a free consultation. It is not too late to build a prototype in the meantime to decrease the bulk of the existing pile as the funds are raised to construct the final plant in the area of the old roofless garbage truck depot off Palmetto road. What a great option for the buses – Bermuda-produced biogas!
GET MOVING ON THIS PEOPLE, RESPECT OUR BERMUDIAN INGENUITY AND SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS!!
Firemen need this annual practice. They don’t get many other fires to fight!
The Good Lord sent the rain at 3am – rain that was forecast days ago – but then I guess the Lord knew the fire was going to happen right? Why didn’t he stop it then with all his power? Or is he just evil and likes to piss about with us?
If u have nothing positive to say…HUSH!
Job well done BFS. God bless you.
Great job to the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service especially, considering the amount of time and energy to combat this large fire! Hopefully, there will be some discussions in preventing this from taking place again! I
I’m located in St. David’s and still smell the smoke. Can’t imagine the nearby residents who had to endure the effects of proximity to the facility! Very uncomfortable I can’t imagine! Hoping everyone will settle to normal routines shortly!
Have a fantastic Bermudaful day despite of last nights uncomfortable smoked filled air breathed by many! Be blessed people!
I did as well. Gosh praying for everyone affected by this. Thinking about the firefighters. Good job to you all.