Philipsburg:--- A huge fire broke out at Bakkers Recyling on the Pondside yesterday evening. The entire Philipsburg was covered in thick black smoke as firefighters and police were battling to put the blaze out. From the look of the smoke it is clear Bakkers were storing chemicals and toxic materials among the wrekage.Up to press time the cause of the fire was not determined. As bystanders stood on rooftops and alongside the road leading to Bakkers several explosions were heard.
Authorities at the fire department said they could not tell what is the cause of the fire.Residents in the area said the fire began just around 4pm on Monday afternoon.
Efforts made to contact the managing director of Bakkers recyling on Monday afternoon for a comment proved futile.
Several residents in the area said they have been complaining to everyone about the danger Bakkers posed since the wrecks are piled up. One resident said that by the end of the month St. Maarten would be in hurricane season and with the piles of wrecks on the dump is something waiting to happen.
Jadira Veen of the St. Maarten PRIDE Foundation is calling on all residents living in the area to wear masks since the smoke and chemical emissions from the fire is a heath hazard. Veen said it is clear toxins is in the area and people should begin to take the necessary precautions. She further explained that it was unfortunate for this fire to take place since Bakkers is was looking to ship the car wrecks that were collected when it is feasible for the company.
SMN News learnt that concerned residents have already sent letters to the island government requesting that they do something to assist the company so they can ship off the wrecks more often.During the commotion on the site police arrested photo journalist Gromyko Wilson because he crossed the line to take his photographs. It is not clear if Wilson was involved in any confrontation with the police at the time of his arrest.
