With Governor Kenneth Mapp out of the territory, Acting Governor Osbert Potter has authorized the U.S. Virgin Islands Fire Service and the V.I.P.D. to assist the Government of the British Virgin Islands with extinguishing a massive landfill blaze that erupted Wednesday night, Government House made known Thursday. Mr. Potter’s action is in response to a request from the Premier of the British Virgin Islands Orlando Smith.
Government House said seven firefighters from the territory’s Fire Service and three V.I.P.D. Marine Unit officers deployed on Thursday to provide assistance and technical resources. The fire is primarily kindled with construction debris at the Cox Heath Dump Site on Tortola, according to Government House.
The territory’s first responders will assist the BVI Fire and Rescue Service and others on Tortola who have already responded to the emergency.
“I am pleased we are able to assist our neighbors in the British Virgin Islands,” Mr. Potter said. “First responders from both territories are working tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”
Representatives from the VI Fire Service are: Fire Chief Oral Wheatley, Deputy Fire Chief Leonard Fabian, Deputy Fire Chief Antonio Stevens, Fire Marshal Johnny Frontal, Fire Lieutenant David Hodge, Fire Lieutenant Keno Walcott and Fire Corporal Michael Wilkinson. Sergeant Cornel Espirit, Officer Ashlee Hodg and Officer Jaime Serrano are the responders from the VI Police Department Marine Unit.
Feature Image: Flames rage at the Cox Heath Dump Site in Tortola. (Credit: Clifton Skelton/BVI Platinum News)
Tags: acting governor, british virgin islands, bvi, fire, osbert potter, usvi
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