Dump fire outrage
The cause of the fire, which started on Wednesday and continued over the weekend, is unknown.
FOR the second time in a matter of weeks, residents living close to the uThungulu District landfill site at Empangeni were battling to breathe as dense plumes of smoke billowed from an uncontrolled blaze.
The cause of the fire, which started on Wednesday and continued over the weekend, is unknown.
Responding to numerous calls from angry neighbours, the Zululand Observer visited the site, from where smoke was hovering over the nearby farms and across the N2 towards Felixton.
Only one fireman was observed, fighting the fire with a single hosepipe.
According to a nearby farmer, the dumpsite has been mismanaged over the years, resulting in regular fires.
He claims that rubbish that should be spread and covered with sand on a daily basis is neglected, and that waste towers a few metres high.
It was reported by the same farmer that the fire was left unattended on Wednesday night.
‘This fire was so bad that I had to evacuate my staff members and my family from our farm.
‘The smoke was thick and affected my staff’s living quarters as well as my house.
‘Further to this, flies are a major problem.
‘We put up expensive fly traps to try and reduce the problem but nothing helps.
‘The traps get filled up within a few hours and the amount of money spent to replace the traps is exorbitant.
‘I have now resorted to using makeshift traps out of plastic bottles’ he said.
Fast food restaurants have also been affected by the excessive number of flies.
A staffer at Engen One Stop on the N2, just a few kilometres away from the dumpsite, said customers cannot peacefully enjoy their eat-in meals.
‘We have to constantly change our fly traps and ensure that the rubbish is disposed of every fifteen minutes.
‘We cannot even open our back door any more’ she said.
Sandy Camminga, public officer of the Richards Bay Clean Air Association confirmed on Friday that the air had been polluted with the toxic smoke since Wednesday.
‘We received a complaint from residents of Braeburn Farm regarding severe smoke and a burning plastic smell.
‘The RBCAA forwarded the complaint to uMhlathuze and uThungulu Municipalities yesterday (Thursday) but no information has been forthcoming’ said Camminga.
The uThungulu District Municipality was contacted by the Zululand Observer for a comment.
No response was received at the time of going to print.
