Above: Local Government Minister Noel Arscott and Information Minister Sandrea Falconer at a press briefing (JIS Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Conditions at Kingston’s Riverton Landfill are now “back to normal” after a fire sent fumes spreading across the capital, the government said today.

“Conditions at the dump are back to pre-Feb. 6, 2012 conditions,” said Noel Arscott, Minister of Local Government and Community Development. “We have met our target outlined to put out the fire and control the smoke in the first 72 hours. The fire has been extinguished, but pockets of smoke still emit from some areas.”

Arscott said the smoke would dissipate as soon as covering operations were completed.

“We are reminding the public that normal covering operations will result in the release of dust and this in turn will be interacting with micro-climatic conditions during late evening to early morning.”

At its peak, the fire spanned the greater part of the Kingston metropolitan area, and sections of St Catherine, creating a sight that was visible to most of the city.