A fire at the George Town landfill in the early hours of Wednesday morning was quickly contained after Department of Environmental Health (DEH) staff alerted the Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS).

The DEH said the fire was identified at about 3am in freshly deposited waste on the western side of the landfill. Fire crews brought the blaze under control before it could spread further. The cause remains under investigation.

DEH and CIFS personnel have continued working to damp down the affected area and monitor the site to prevent any re-ignition.

Wednesday's incident is the latest in a series of fires at the George Town landfill this year. At least four other fires have been publicly reported since March, including a major blaze in April that burned for several days, prompted road closures and air quality concerns, and forced the closure of nearby schools.

Batteries remain a fire risk

The latest incident follows four separate battery fires intercepted by DEH staff at the landfill last Friday while waste was being handled. The department said staff prevented the fires from spreading through their quick response.

DEH has not said whether Wednesday's fire was connected to those earlier incidents.

The department is urging residents not to dispose of batteries in household rubbish, warning that damaged or improperly discarded batteries, particularly rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, can ignite if crushed or punctured during waste collection and handling.

According to the DEH, such batteries pose a significant fire risk to staff, waste management facilities and the wider community.

Speaking to The Caymanian Journal (TCJ) on 30 July, DEH Director Richard Simms said the department was "actively implementing fire prevention, monitoring and response measures at the landfill".

"We also encourage the public to help reduce risks by disposing of batteries responsibly," Simms said. "Batteries should not be placed in household waste but should be taken to designated battery collection points for safe recycling and disposal."

TCJ contacted the Department of Environmental Health on Wednesday seeking further comment on the latest fire, including whether investigators had identified a likely cause and whether it was linked to the recent battery incidents, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Community concern

The George Town landfill is located near residential neighbourhoods, businesses and major road links, meaning fires at the site have the potential to generate smoke and affect nearby communities if not brought under control.

A West Bay resident, who asked not to be named, told TCJ the latest fire had caused concern.

"It is a very scary experience for the community. I also feel it could be avoided as the people in power had many opportunities before to have Mount Trashmore disposed. I hope it will be resolved soon, along with all of the other pressing issues happening in our island. In Jesus name."

The latest fire adds to a string of incidents at the George Town landfill this year, highlighting the site's ongoing operational challenges while officials continue to urge residents to dispose of batteries and other hazardous waste responsibly.