UPDATE: No fire at Riverton dump, Local Government Minister upset about erroneous Fire Brigade report

An upset Local Government Minister, Noel Arscott, says there is no fire at the Riverton City dump in St Andrew, contradicting reports from the Jamaica Fire brigade.

He says an “ugly” fire is at an open lot off Spanish Town Road.

Minutes after seven o’clock this morning, Emeleo Ebanks, the brigade’s public relations officer, told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that firefighters were responding to a blaze at the dump.

However, Arscott, who recently vowed there would be no repeat of a major fire at the dump that occurred in March, says Ebanks got it wrong.

“The PR department from the fire brigade made an erroneous statement without clarification. Two units are on site as well as security forces to ensure there are no impediments to the response. It’s an ugly fire but it’s under control.” Arscott said

Contacted, Ebanks said he got the information on the fire from “persons in the watch room” at the York Park Fire Station, the station that responded to the blaze.

The fire has resulted in thick black smoke covering sections of Spanish Town Road. It’s not clear when or how it started.