Previous Story
DPW clearing operation allegedly triggers bushfire in As Gonno
A truck and a hydromower caught fire in a jungle area in As Gonno yesterday afternoon. The fire destroyed about three acres of vegetation. (Ferdie de la Torre)
A clearing operation by the Department of Public Works at a Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality project in a jungle area allegedly triggered yesterday afternoon a big bushfire across Guangdong Hardware in As Gonno. Another bushfire also occurred in Kagman yesterday afternoon.
When Saipan Tribune left the area late afternoon yesterday, fire fighters were still on standby as thick smoke could still be seen.
No one was reported injured during the fire that was reported at 3:14pm.
A pickup truck and heavy equipment that were said to be used during the clearing operation caught fire. It’s not clear whether they belong to BECQ or the Department of Public Works.
Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Derek Gersonde said the fire swept about three acres of vegetation.
Gersonde said initial investigation showed that BECQ employees were testing samples underground of the water aquifer for possible jet fuel contamination in the area that used to be a fuel farm.
The DPW crew was clearing the area to make an access road. Fire broke out when a truck pulled out the hydromower that got stuck.
Gersonde said apparently friction triggered the fire.
He said investigation is still ongoing to determine the cause of fire.
The fire immediately spread to the bushes in the area located near the traffic lights intersection of As Perdido Road and Monsignor Guerrero Road.
Police and firefighters rerouted the traffic flow and blocked motorists from the intersection as thick smoke blanketed the vicinity.
Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to a house in the area and some Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power poles.
Gersonde said he has no information yet regarding the Kagman bushfire.
A two-day wildland fire that began on Monday destroyed over 100 acres of vegetation on Capital Hill, Wireless Ridge, and Talafofo.
