Small Fire at George Town Landfill Quickly Contained

The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) advises the public that a small fire occurred at the George Town Landfill during the early hours of this morning and was quickly contained.

At approximately 3:00 A.M., a report was made to the Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS) after a small fire was identified in a freshly deposited waste on the western side of the landfill and brought it under control quickly.

DEH and CIFS personnel continue working together to wet down the affected area and monitor the site to prevent any recurrence. Preliminary information indicates that the fire originated in freshly placed garbage. While the cause remains under investigation, DEH is reminding residents to exercise caution when disposing of household waste, particularly batteries and other potentially flammable materials.

Last Friday, DEH staff intercepted four separate incidents in which batteries ignited while being handled at the landfill. Thanks to the quick actions of staff, the fires were contained before they could spread.

The DEH urges the public not to dispose of batteries in household garbage, as damaged or improperly discarded batteries, especially rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, can ignite when crushed or punctured during waste collection and handling, posing a significant fire risk to staff, waste management facilities and the wider community.

For additional information, please contact the DEH at 949-6696, email us at dehcustomerservice@gov.ky, visit the DEH’s website at  www.gov.ky/deh or message our Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3LEK55q.