ORANJESTAD (AAN) – Large Brush Fire Near Moko Prompts Major Fire Response on Sunday afternoon after a fast-moving blaze spread through dry vegetation, producing heavy smoke that was visible from a considerable distance across the area.
The Aruba Alarm Center received numerous emergency calls from residents reporting thick smoke and concerns about the fire. Firefighters and police officers were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Authorities located the fire in a large open area of dry brush near Moko 30. Upon arrival, firefighters found that the blaze had already spread rapidly due to the dry vegetation, creating challenging conditions for emergency crews.
The first fire engine immediately began attacking the flames while following operational instructions to concentrate water directly on the advancing fire. A second fire unit soon joined the response, but the intensity of the blaze required additional personnel and the deployment of a third fire truck.
Firefighters spent several hours battling the flames, with one of the fire engines making multiple trips to refill its water tank to maintain a continuous water supply during the operation.
Resident Treated for Smoke Exposure
As the heavy smoke spread through nearby neighborhoods, emergency responders also received reports of a woman in the Papaya area who became ill after being exposed to the strong smoke. An ambulance was dispatched to provide medical assistance.
Authorities encouraged residents to check on elderly family members and neighbors, particularly those living close to the affected area, as the smoke continued to impact nearby communities during the firefighting operation.
