The Jamaica Fire Brigade is reporting that it has extinguished several of the massive bush fires, which broke out in Jacks Hill and neighbouring communities in St. Andrew.
Deputy Superintendent of the York Park Fire Station, Patrick Gooden, says fire personnel still in the area, have turned their attention to a section of Skyline Drive.
“Most of the fire has been extinguished except for a section at Skyline dry that is inaccessible to the brigade at this time…. , “ said Gooden.
The fires started on Sunday morning and later spread due to heavy winds.
Fire personnel along with Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) helicopters transporting water battled the fires that spread to other communities including Ivor, Cassia Ridge and Westphalia.
The fires destroyed a house in an informal settlement and came dangerously close to others.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Environment Trust, Diana McCauley, says the problem of bush fires in the Jack Hill area has been a long-standing one.
She expressed concern that not enough attention has been placed on preventative measures.
“Jacks Hill has been burning for a long time . but we don’t seem to take preventative action, people are still clearing land using for agriculture, we don’t really have the facilities or ability to fight these fires. We need to look at our long standing problems,” McCauley said.
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