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Guam - The Guam Fire Department and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency were on the scene of a fire that's been burning up land in Agafa Gumas.


A joint investigation has been launched to find what sparked a fire that broke out on Saturday evening on a composting site in Agafa Gumas, Yigo.


According to Guam Environmental Protection Agency administrator Eric Palacios, EPA staff are on site as Guam Cleaning Masters is permitted with the agency to conduct composting in the area.


As of Monday afternoon, firefighters continued to fight the blaze from piles of green waste. As GFD spokesperson explains, the fire is an incendiary fire. Much like arson, incendiary fires are wildland fires that are intentionally set.


Artero adds that the private contractor is not permitted with the one stop center to conduct open burning at the Yigo site. Had they been permitted, inspectors would have visited the site prior to ensure there was a nearby water supply and no fire hazards in the area.


While responders continue to fight the blaze, Palacios reminds nearby residents to close their windows and doors if they suffer from respiratory problems and to avoid the area if possible.