The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency received a call Tuesday morning about the burning of tires in Malaeloa.
When employees arrived in the bush area behind Faasao Marist High School, bordering Malaeloa, the fire had spread. Luckily they quickly managed to extinguish the blaze stopping the flames from spreading. But the foul smell of burning tires lingered several hours after the fire was put out.
ASEPA reminds the public that open burning of combustible material like tires is prohibited by law because it is harmful to the environment and also to public health. Under air emission rules and regulations: “No person shall dispose of combustible material by open burning, or ignite, cause to be ignited, permit to be ignited, or maintain any open fire within the territorial limits of American Samoa.”
ASEPA is thankful to the caller who alerted their office about the open burning and encourages the public to report any such incidents by messaging their Face Book page or call 633-2304 or 733-2476.
Photo: ASEPA
