Efforts are currently underway to contain the smoke emanating from the fire at the Waaldijk Sawmill in Linden which started more than a week ago.
A team comprising Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Public Infrastructure Minister Juan Edghill, and representatives from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) visited the community on Tuesday to assess the situation first-hand.
Speaking on a radio programme on 104.3 Boom FM, the Prime Minister said that if the concentration of smoke increases, residents in proximity may need to be relocated to shelters.
In the meantime, he advised residents to wear protective gear, such as face masks, and noted that various agencies, including the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), have been working diligently to ease the situation.
“So what is going to happen is they’re going to be trucking water and pouring it over the area in a sustained manner. Hopefully, this will eventually lead to not only the suppression but the extinguishing of the fire. We’re talking about over 30 years of sawmill waste, ash, shavings, and pieces of wood. So obviously, it’s several feet deep,” he explained.
Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel (Ret’d) Nazrul Hussain, said the situation is being closely monitored.
“My team has been on the ground since the fire started. We’ve been monitoring what’s going on. The fire is man-made due to the combustible material present, and our main challenge has been eliminating it. However, that primary threat has now been addressed, and we’re dealing with the residual impacts,” he stated.
Hussain added that stakeholders—including the Forestry Commission, Region 10 Democratic Council, EPA, and GWI—are on the ground conducting assessments. He assured that the CDC will remain involved until the threat is fully resolved.
He also said that shelter locations have already been identified, although some residents have expressed reluctance to relocate due to security concerns.
Nevertheless, he advised residents to evacuate during the daytime and return home at night when the air is less polluted.
Fire Officer in Charge at the Linden Fire Station, Mark Smith, stated that efforts to soak the area will continue in order to suppress the smoke, which has significantly affected residents.
Executive Director of the EPA, Kemraj Parsam, reassured the public that his team has been actively monitoring the situation and providing guidance to residents.
“Of course, the fire started with natural gas emissions that caused it to ignite. The main issue now is the smoke. Our staff is currently on the ground monitoring the concentration of carbon monoxide and other pollutants to determine the impact on residents. Some individuals—particularly those with respiratory sensitivities—are being affected. The CDC is working to relocate the most vulnerable. The key point is that our measurements show the smoke concentration has not exceeded World Health Organisation standards,” he said.
Minister Edghill also reassured the public that both the private sector and the government are collaborating and mobilising resources. He emphasised that there is no cause for alarm and that conditions will soon return to normal.
PM Phillips and team during his visit to the site
PM Phillips speaks about the state of the fire in Linden
