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FIGHTING FIRES IN TOLEDO...
posted (April 27, 2020)
As we told you earlier, these wildfires have also ignited in other parts of the country. The Ministry says that they've identified fires in the Bladen Nature Reserve.

Today, a group of rangers from the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, came to the aid of residents of the Hopeville in the Toledo District. The swamp near their community has dried up due to the drought, and now, they have large quantities of fuel for an uncontrolled wildfire.

Our colleagues from PGTV got a chance to speak with TIDE's Terrestrial Manager about their efforts to get the blaze under control on behalf of the residents.

Here's how that conversation went.

Mario Muschamp - Terrestrial Manager, TIDE
"Currently, we're working on a fire that's here in the village. It's actually, a ground fire, what we call a ground fire. So, it's actually, burning under the ground. And that's why we're seeing so much smoke, and it's smoking out the community for the past few days. So, a team of staff from TIDE, the police department, BDF, and the Fire Department are actually out here trying to put this fire out."

"We got here, I'd say, around 8 this morning, and started working on this fire."

Reporter
"Do you think that you'll be able to put this fire out sometime today or tomorrow?"

Mario Muschamp
"It's a very tricky fire, given the fact that it's in a wetland. These areas normally don't burn, but because of the drought conditions, we're seeing that the actual roots, leaves, and all the rotten stuff that are on the ground have dried out, and those are the stuff that is burning. So, the fire is burning underground. We have to be digging it up and spraying it with water to put it out."

Reporter
"Do you know what caused the fire?"

Mario Muschamp
"[It] has to be somebody. It couldn't start off on its own. As I said, I'm not from this village. I don't know exactly when it started, but it had to be started by somebody within this community."

"This area hasn't seen fire for so many years, and all that stuff that's burning is definitely putting off some toxic smoke that is not very good for health conditions in this community. So, that's first and foremost, getting rid of this fire, and then trying to work with the Forest Department and the Fire Department to see what other fires that we need to deal with within the community and Toledo. But, in general, what we really need is to work with community leaders. So, we're trying to have a meeting with the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association, [and] DAVCO Toledo try and sensitize the public on the good and bad faces of fire, and also the new legislation as it relates to burning currently."

Reports are that these fires have been burning for more than 3 weeks now, and the smoke has negatively impacted the residents of Hopeville.

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