This is the Kingston Wharf, a couple of years ago, on a clear day. It would not look like this today. The fire is still burning, or is it? We are being told that it is extinguished one minute, the next it is still smoking, and “cooling down” activities are underway. So does this mean it is still burning? Is the entire thing extinguished? How many acres burned? What is left? How much did it cost? How many firefighters were involved? Was anyone injured? What private sector companies participated? Was it arson (we are being told it was)?

We are also being told that recent air tests taken on March 13 and 14 (which still have not been released by the Ministry of Health) showed benzene levels at the highest levels ever. What does this mean? What is benzene? What does it do to people? What can we do to protect ourselves? How long does it stay in the ecosystem and one’s body? What other chemicals are now in the air? How long will they stay in the atmosphere? What will be done to prevent this from happening again?

You know your communications strategy has gone awry when there are way more questions that answers prompted by the information you as a government release. You also know it has gone awry when you release key health information more than a week after what has been declared a public health emergency started.

So it is left to journalists to scrape up what little information they can from government officials who seem to know little themselves. Then it is left to enterprising bloggers and social media folks to fill in the gaps with questions. Here is a wonderful blog on the Riverton fire. It provides essential information that the government should have had on hand, ready to release, pending a public health emergency such as this. It is not like this is the first time the Riverton dump has burned. I think this is the TWELFTH time in a decade. Instead, officials are acting as if this has never happened before. It is exhausting trying to get information here. It is an exercise in endurance and persistence that often produces little or no results. And people get burnt out.

In any case, as I have said before, I keep thinking about the people who live right near the dump. The people who have no money to go elsewhere, as the government advised them to do more than a week after the dump started to burn. They can’t close their windows, they can’t afford to go elsewhere. I haven’t heard anything about emergency shelters being set up. What about them?

No one got hurt. Enjoy your Monday.

The fire continues to burn. It has been over a week now and the Medical Officer of Health is assuring us that there will be no long term effects. How does she know that? The results from the air tests have not even been returned to Jamaica yet. They were sent to Canada, which raises more questions- Why is there not somewhere closer to analyze the samples? With all that travel, can the integrity of the samples be guaranteed?. Dr. Marion Bullock-Ducasse is also urging people to stay inside with the windows closed. What about the people who live in homes with no windows or the homeless?

Other authorities are now urging people to wear masks, but a quick Google search shows that masks do little or nothing to protect our precious lungs from pollution from fires. From the American Lung Association: 

General Recommendations

• Stay indoors: People living in close proximity to the fire-stricken areas should remain indoors and avoid inhalation of smoke, ashes and particulate matter in the area.

• Don’t count on a dust mask: Ordinary dust masks, designed to filter out large particles, will not help as they still allow the more dangerous smaller particles to pass through. Special, more expensive dust masks with true HEPA filters will filter out the damaging fine particles, but are difficult for people with lung disease to use. Consult with your physician before using a mask, especially if you have a lung disease.

• Don’t exercise outside: If you live close to or in the surrounding area, it’s recommended that you refrain from exercising outdoors, especially if you smell smoke or notice eye or throat irritation.

• Take precautions for kids: Extra precaution should be taken for children, who are more susceptible to smoke because their respiratory systems are still developing and they breathe in more air (and consequently more pollution) per pound of body mass than adults.

• Roll up your car windows: When driving your car in smoky areas, keep your windows and vents closed. Air conditioning should only be operated in the “recirculate” setting.

• Put air conditioners on recirculate: Stay inside as much as possible, with doors, windows and fireplace dampers shut and preferably with clean air circulating through air conditioners and air cleaners. Use air conditioners on the recirculation setting so outside air will not be moved into the room.

I am also hearing that a group of Canadian students were evacuated this week because of the smoke. I walked around for a couple of hours yesterday and felt fine. The smoke is still looming on the horizon, though, and depending on the wind, it seems to come and go, or at least the horrendous odour does. I just keep thinking about the people who live right near the dump, who have nowhere to go, no money for bus fare to go anywhere else, no money for a hotel, no running water to clean what food they have that is probably contaminated. What is anyone doing to help them?

Photo courtesy of Jamaica Observer

His Excellency President Barack Obama is coming to Jamaica on April 9. Apparently he will visit for one day before heading to Panama City for the Sixth Summit of the Americas. Reaction on social media was swift, with people wondering how fast Kingston will be cleaned up and how fast the potholes will be filled. It will definitely be interesting to see what will be done to shine up the city. Security will likely be extreme, I wonder if we will even be able to move around, and where he will visit. I imagine he will address Parliament, maybe get some jerk chicken, kiss some babies.

Unicef Jamaica and the Office of the Children’s Registry has released this powerful Youtube clip urging Jamaicans to report child abuse. Check it out.

Photo courtesy of Jamaica Observer

The fire continues to burn. On Saturday, I thought it had all cleared out, because the sky was clear and blue and the air smelled normal. Not so fast. It fell on the city yesterday afternoon like a blanket. The stench was overwhelming and my eyes burned again. It seemed to even curl itself into my apartment.

I heard one official say it could burn for TWO MORE WEEKS. They now have about 40 “tipper trucks” and 21 firefighters (doesn’t that seem like a small number to fight such a large acreage?) on site, but they are asking the private sector to donate heavy equipment. We had an update from the Prime Minister’s Office, as well, but that did not answer many questions regarding public health. People are being told to “take precautions,” but beyond common sense, what does this mean? Of course, do not venture outside if you don’t have to (what about people who have to work outside? What about those too poor to move away from the immediate vicinity?) But what about asthmatics, the elderly, children, pregnant women? We are being told those individuals are more at risk, but how? What can they do to protect themselves? Apparently, masks do not work so well.

The fallout is being felt in many ways across the city. High school students were about to undergo major exams (GSATs), but those are now uncertain. Clinics are extending hours to treat those experiencing respiratory (and other) difficulties. Two busloads of children were sent to the hospital on Friday. I heard that over the weekend, 642 people were treated for various ailments related to the fire. At least 50 schools have been closed (and some nearby businesses)- think about that- the traffic as the parents were forced to leave work to pick up their children on Friday, and now those who must either pay for childcare or stay home from work today. And a major road race was cancelled over the weekend because of air quality.

This fire creates a massive ripple effect, and it is not the first time. Here is a comprehensive column from Miss Jean Cowrie-Chin on this ongoing issue. But it seems that this is the TWELFTH reported fire over the past decade. In fact, a fire was burning there one year ago today, and legal action is pending over the regulatory body (the National Solid Waste Management Authority) for a 2012 fire.

Presumably, the lawsuit will address the question of how this keeps happening. Indeed, how does it? How are the fires actually started? Most people assume they are set on fire to create more room for the never-ending garbage flowing from Kingston (I can’t remember where I saw this, but about 80,000 tonnes per year, by one estimate). What are the immediate and long term effects on one’s health? What is the government’s responsibility to its citizens? Especially those who live right near the dump and cannot afford to move anywhere else? Is the garbage separated properly? Who guards the site? What is the long term strategy for addressing waste?

An update from Director General Clive Davis yesterday indicated “significant containment” of the fire. However, there is still no timeline as to when it will be eradicated. I will leave you with his words:

“We understand the grave inconvenience…the disruption of lives and livelihoods. I want to reassure you, however, that the men and women of the Jamaica Fire Brigade and our public and private sector partners continue to work assiduously to bring a halt to this situation,” he stated.

Photo courtesy of Jamaica Observer

We flew in last night from Florida and I immediately noticed a haze over the island. At first, It thought maybe it was the changing season. Then, I noticed that the sun was a red disc in the sky, obscured by this haze. This is normal in North America, to see the sun like this, but I’ve never seen it so in Jamaica. It was beautiful, but eerie. I could see people stopping on the street to stare at it. There was even a debate amongst the people in the car in which I was riding as to whether or not it was the moon or the sun.

Well, this morning, the cause is clear and it is not the season changing. The Riverton dump is burning again. There are apparently five acres burning, with 70 firefighters on scene. It is spreading quickly, however, because of strong winds. Nearby schools are closed and a haze rests all over Kingston. My eyes are burning and my lungs feel thick. The Ministry of Health has advised people with respiratory difficulties to “take precautions”, like wearing a damp rag over your mouth. They also advise that the elderly, children and pregnant women should take precautions. What does that mean? What are the risks? Again, more questions than answers.

This is one of my favorite pictures. I took it downtown at Plant Jamaica, a collective that is trying to popularize urban farming.

Boys hard at work in the Possibilities Program. Today they were learning to identify nouns and verbs using the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper.