Bush fire continues destruction
published: Tuesday | February 15, 2005

FIREFIGHTERS IN St. Elizabeth are continuing to battle a major bush fire in the southeastern section of the parish which has been raging for the past five days.

The fire, which has destroyed hundreds of acres of property from Ballard's Valley to Tryall and is now threatening sections of Lover's Leap, has resulted in millions of dollars of losses to farmers. The destruction of the crops coincides with the resuscitation of farming following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan last September.

President of the Kiwanis Club of Junction, Richard Hall, told The Gleaner that despite the tremendous effort of the firefighters, they are unable to control the blaze.

"The lack of water and the inaccessibility of the fire-fighters to reach the flames are hampering their efforts," Mr. Hall said. "Respiratory problems are also affecting residents in several communities from Junction to Southfield as the areas are all covered in smoke arising from fire."