Firefighters are tackling a blaze at Pembroke dump.

According to Lt. Dana Lovell of the Bermuda Fire Service, an area of waste measuring around 50 by 40 feet is ablaze.

Lt. Lovell said Works and Engineering employees were working with firefighters to extinguish the blaze quickly.

“We have an area of horticultural waste measuring approximately 50 by 40 feet,” he said around 3 p.m. “It’s what we classify as a deep-seated fire. We are uncertain of the cause at this time and we are concentrating on getting the fire out.”

He added that three appliances and ten firefighters had been called to the scene.

“We have three hoselines working on it [although] the fire is not just a simple matter of spraying it. It is burning all the way through — from the top to the bottom.

“We are working together with Works and Engineering to break the piles of waste up into smaller piles and then wet them.”

Lt. Lovell was unable to say when the fire might be put out.

“It is under control to all intents and purposes. It’s going to be difficult to say when exactly it’s going to be out but it’s our goal to get it out as soon as possible as we know people are concerned about the smoke. But we’re right on top of it.”

A major blaze at the dump in March 2007 burned for a week.

However, Police spokesman Dwayne Caines played down the latest incident, telling The Royal Gazette this afternoon: “It looks fairly mundane (and) appears to be as a result of welders in the area. There is minimal police involvement.”

Watch this website for further updates and for the full story, see tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette.