The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says there is no fire or smoke at its Retirement Disposal Facility in St James.

In a release on Monday, the NSWMA said it received several calls regarding smoke hovering over Montego Bay and surrounding communities. However, checks with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) reveal there is a bushfire in the vicinity of Lottery, the authority said.

It said residents have reported that fires within the area are ongoing during the hot dry season.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of the NSWMA, Audley Gordon says the last fire at the Retirement Disposal Site was on January 25, 2023.

“The facility is presently fully covered, and fire wardens remain vigilant. Additionally, cover material has been stockpiled to quickly extinguish any fire that may occur due to spontaneous combustion. We understand the discomfort being experienced by residents and we take no joy in sharing that it is not from our site,” Gordon said.

Checks with the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) reveal firefighters have been busy trying to contain several bushfires islandwide.

Emelio Ebanks, Public Relations Officer for the Jamaica Fire Brigade, says the brigade has attended to more bushfires since the start of this year, compared with a similar period last year.