A determination as to whether evacuation is necessary for residents living near Tuesday's fire at the Trincity Industrial Estate, Macoya, will be made after air quality tests are conducted by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). The information is contained in a report submitted by EMA's managing director/chief executive office Joth Singh to Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal. Moonilal confirmed receipt of the report, dated July 6, which stated that the fire officers were continuing to fight smoldering pockets of fire which is expected to continue for sometime.
Residents near the multi-million-dollar fire, which ravaged Thermoplas Plastic Manufacturing Company, have complained of being affected by a thick blanket of smoke and toxic fumes. In his report Singh confirmed that during a tour of the area, including Macoya Gardens and Tunapuna Health Centre, they received complaints of nausea and dizziness associated with the smoke and fumes. He said there were gas tanks and piping systems near the fire site that may have been damaged as a result of heat from the fire.
Singh said the EMA would engage a consultant to evaluate the air quality around the site and compare the results with threshold limit exposure values set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (AIGIH). He said tests would be conducted for SO2 (sulfur dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide), NOx (oxides of nitrogen) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). He added: "In the event these exposure limits are exceeded, reports will be forwarded to OSHA, the Fire Services and Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation so that a decision can be made regarding the need for evacuation. "The EMA will request the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) to evaluate the integrity of the gas infrastructure on the fire site."