Fire burns cane fields near Newtown’s recreation ground

By Suelika N. Creque
Editor-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – RESIDENTS of New Ponds Site and Ponds Pasture had cause for alarm yesterday [Sunday, May, 18] when fire began burning several cane fields west of the TDC Home and Building Depot, located on the Frigate Bay Road, and spread across to the cane fields on the east of the Newtown Playing Field.

The fire allegedly began sometime after 11:00 a.m. and the Fire and Rescue Services were contacted some 31 minutes after, whereupon arrival they found a number of cane fields in the area burning.

According to Fire Station Officer Everette O’Garro, members of the Fire and Rescue Services had some control of the fire and were constantly monitoring it because of the nearby homes and businesses in the area.

The inferno lasted for some five and a half hours and apart from the burning of the cane fields, it also destroyed what appeared to be abandoned vehicles.  ~~Adz:Right~~

O’Garro said they were unsure of the origin of the fire, adding that he strongly felt it was carelessly started. He appealed to people to desist from this practice as the fire could “get out of hand” as in yesterday’s case.

O’Garro also urged everyone that has business establishments near to cane fields to build a fire break to prevent fire from spreading unto their premises. He mentioned the owner of Auto and Marine Electronics as a case in point who could have lost his entire property because of Sunday’s fire.