Updated 12 p.m.
Fire crews have officially wrapped up operations at the Bovoni Landfill, with all visible flames and smoke extinguished by early Thursday afternoon, according to officials with the V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
Just before 1 p.m., teams from Lima and Tango Companies confirmed the fire had been fully suppressed. Ten firefighters and four pieces of firefighting apparatus were deployed on Day Two of the response to locate and eliminate remaining hot spots.
Support from A9 Trucking was crucial to the final effort, with crews using excavators, dump trucks, and a bulldozer to break apart debris and expose smoldering material for full extinguishment. VIFEMS responders then doused the area with water to prevent reignition.
An EMS chief remained on-site to oversee responder safety, though no injuries were reported during the multi-day effort. Fire officials also thanked Gasworks Gas Station for providing water and refreshments to those working in the field.
As of Thursday afternoon, VIFEMS said firefighting activities related to the landfill blaze were officially concluded.
10:30 a.m.
The Bovoni Landfill has been closed to private haulers until further notice following a green waste fire that triggered a multi-agency emergency response Thursday night.
The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority issued the notice early Friday morning, stating that only garbage trucks and commercial roll-on/roll-off waste haulers will be allowed access. Private haulers are barred from entering until the site is deemed safe.
The fire was first reported at approximately 7:10 p.m. on Thursday. Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS) responded immediately, dispatching units from Lima Company after smoke was observed rising from a large pile of green waste debris. Additional personnel from Hotel, Echo, and Tango Companies were called in to assist.
Thirteen firefighters, five fire trucks, two Emergency Medical Technicians, and one ambulance were deployed to the scene. A9 Trucking, which manages the landfill, provided two excavators to help break apart the debris pile and expose smoldering areas. St. Thomas Rescue supported the effort using drone-based thermal imaging to identify hot spots.
Crews successfully isolated the affected area from surrounding combustible material, including nearby scrap metal, and doused the pile to prevent rekindling. Suppression efforts concluded at approximately 12:22 a.m. Thursday. No injuries were reported.
Fire Director Antonio Stevens said crews will continue “digging and throwing the dirt on it” to fully extinguish any remaining hot spots. Enforcement officers have also been stationed at the landfill gate to control traffic and ensure that only authorized vehicles are permitted entry.
