By Tevita Motulalo
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| The flames devouring slowly through the carcasses of scrapped cars |
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| A lone fireman hosing the pile hoping to slow down the blaze from the neighbours |
A pillar of thick, dark smoke alarmed residents of Kolofo‘ou and Ma’ufanga as it rose like smog in an otherwise clear Tuesday morning sky.
It originated from a furious fire ravaging through the GIO Recycling’s stock of scrapped vehicles at the Nishi Quarry in Pili.
GIO Recycling Manager ‘Ofa Tu‘ikolovatu is irritated because of the dangerous risk the fire could have been to the community.
Apparently this is not the first incident of a fire at her property.
“It is really frustrating,” ‘Ofa told the Tonga Chronicle.
The fire is blamed on arsonists, and she has an idea of who they might be.
“We believe they are kids around the age of 7-9 from around the neighbourhood, who burn the innards of the vehicles to detach and steal copper components so they can sell to the Chinese recyclers up the road,” she said.
“It is easier for us when they burn the vehicles. But that’s not the point. The point is the community’s safety from the toxic fumes from the burning the vehicles. The thieves are lucky they were not trapped inside the piles.”
A security guard at the quarry alerted the fire services of the ensuing flames early Tuesday morning.
Fire fighters from Tonga Fire Services were fighting to contain the blaze as residents in the immediate vicinity of the dump stood by concerned for the safety of their homes.
The dump fills the quarry to within meters of the nearest homes.
Quarry Manager Minolu Nishi Sr. says the fire “didn’t start from nothing.”
“This is no accident,” Nishi said to Tonga Chronicle.
The danger from the burning vehicles and other combustible materials, prevented fire fighters from venturing too far into the thick of the pile, attempting only to contain the flames from spreading to the neighbouring houses and facilities.
Chief Fire Officer Heimuli says he did alert the Ma’ufanga Town Officer of a possible evacuation of homes in the vicinity of the fire if needed.
“Although no one has been found yet to be responsible in previous inquiries, we suspect the incident was planned. It was no accident,” he said to Tonga Chronicle.
No injury has been reported so far.
It originated from a furious fire ravaging through the GIO Recycling’s stock of scrapped vehicles at the Nishi Quarry in Pili.
GIO Recycling Manager ‘Ofa Tu‘ikolovatu is irritated because of the dangerous risk the fire could have been to the community.
Apparently this is not the first incident of a fire at her property.
“It is really frustrating,” ‘Ofa told the Tonga Chronicle.
The fire is blamed on arsonists, and she has an idea of who they might be.
“We believe they are kids around the age of 7-9 from around the neighbourhood, who burn the innards of the vehicles to detach and steal copper components so they can sell to the Chinese recyclers up the road,” she said.
“It is easier for us when they burn the vehicles. But that’s not the point. The point is the community’s safety from the toxic fumes from the burning the vehicles. The thieves are lucky they were not trapped inside the piles.”
A security guard at the quarry alerted the fire services of the ensuing flames early Tuesday morning.
Fire fighters from Tonga Fire Services were fighting to contain the blaze as residents in the immediate vicinity of the dump stood by concerned for the safety of their homes.
The dump fills the quarry to within meters of the nearest homes.
Quarry Manager Minolu Nishi Sr. says the fire “didn’t start from nothing.”
“This is no accident,” Nishi said to Tonga Chronicle.
The danger from the burning vehicles and other combustible materials, prevented fire fighters from venturing too far into the thick of the pile, attempting only to contain the flames from spreading to the neighbouring houses and facilities.
Chief Fire Officer Heimuli says he did alert the Ma’ufanga Town Officer of a possible evacuation of homes in the vicinity of the fire if needed.
“Although no one has been found yet to be responsible in previous inquiries, we suspect the incident was planned. It was no accident,” he said to Tonga Chronicle.
No injury has been reported so far.
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