Smoke billowed westward, reaching the nearby Henry E. Rohlsen Airport and beyond, as emergency personnel worked to extinguish the fire. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT, V.I. CONSORTIUM
The V.I. Waste Management Authority confirmed Monday night that the fire at the Anguilla Landfill, which began on Sunday, was fully extinguished on Monday, October 21, around 2 p.m. The blaze had persisted for nearly two days, prompting a coordinated response involving multiple agencies to bring it under control.
Efforts to combat the fire involved the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS), VIWMA personnel, the landfill operator, and several other government entities. Among the agencies assisting in the response were the Office of the Governor, the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, the Departments of Health, Planning and Natural Resources, the V.I. Port Authority, and the V.I. National Guard (VING), according to the USVI Joint Information Center, a group of government entities coalesced to respond to emergencies.
As a result of the fire, the Anguilla Landfill will reopen with adjusted hours on Tuesday, Oct. 22, operating from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. WMA has apologized to the community for any disruptions caused during the incident.
The agency expressed gratitude to all first responders, particularly VIFEMS, for their efforts in extinguishing the fire and ensuring public safety. For further information, residents are encouraged to contact the VIWMA Division of Education and Communications Management at 340-474-2811 or via email at [email protected].
The cause of the fire has not been disclosed, and additional details about the incident remain pending. The Anguilla Landfill, a vital waste management site for St. Croix, has long faced issues related to capacity and environmental impact. Although there are plans to close the facility permanently and relocate to a new site, no significant updates have been provided since March 2023, when the V.I. Housing Finance Authority announced that $51 million would be needed to expand the landfill to extend its lifespan ahead of a permanent closure.
