WESTERN BUREAU:

A raging fire destroyed more than 300 acres of land in St Elizabeth yesterday as it blazed for over four hours across the Barbary Hall and Mountainside districts of the parish.

Several farmers were left wondering where to tether their animals as the grass on which their livestock grazed in the com-munities has been parched. The areas affected are Brown Berry Lane, Brucesfield, Hermitage and a section of Barbary Hall.

Woman Constable Carole Panton, the Constabulary Com-munication Network liaison officer for St Elizabeth, told The Gleaner yesterday that the farmers managed to save their cattle, but that the lands burned before the fire could be brought under control.

Power wire severed

Panton said the fire started about midday yesterday when strong winds gusted through the area, breaking a limb from an ackee tree which then severed a high-tension wire and set the field ablaze.

"We were experiencing very strong winds in the area and this enhanced the strength of the fire," a resident said. "We noticed thick black smoke emanating from across the field and subsequently learned that fire was blazing out of control."

The resident said the community faced a similar problem about two years ago, forcing the closure of the Barbary Hall Primary School due to thick smoke.

"We find that the wind is usually very high this time of the year. We are happy that things are now under control."

Panton said the fire was brought under control through the concerted effort of farmers, who used three of their tractors; firefighters attached to the Black River and Santa Cruz fire departments; the Black River Parish Council and firefighters from Savanna-la-Mar.

Up to last night, an estimate of the damage could not be determined as investigations were still under way.

noel.thompson@gleanerjm.com