Cellphone footage recorded by a local firefighter shows smoke in the jungles of Dededo early Thursday morning as Guam Fire Department units rushed to contain a fire at yet another illegal dumpsite. 

“Just after 7 in the morning Thursday, our 911 center received a call for smoke sighted in Chalan Patgon off of Ysengsong in Dededo,” said GFD Spokesperson Lt. Nick Garrido. 

KUAM captured aerial footage to show the extent of the massive dumpsite. 

The secluded area is peppered with countless junk cars, white goods and trash, which made it difficult for fire crews to get to the site. 

“When our units arrived, they had to gain access to the actual area. They had to get on foot and try to move some of the items along the roadway to gain access. This was our first time responding to that particular area. We have gone to Chalan Patgon previously, but not in that area of the road,” added Garrido. 

While it's the first time crews have been called to this dumpsite, they've responded to similar dumps on fire in Dededo over the last year to include Arora Street near Swamp Road and at the pipeline road leading to St. Paul Christian Academy. 

Cleanup and enforcement remain ongoing challenges. 

“We did notify the Guam Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Dededo Mayors Office. The Dededo Mayor did arrive on scene to provide some assistance. They did request assistance from the Office of Civil Defense to get some equipment from the Department of Public Works,” said Garrido. 

Illegal dumps like this not only pollute the land, but pose a real fire threat during the dry season and puts the community at risk. 

“Though it was not in an area where there were a lot of residences and homes, there’s still people who live in that area. There are kids who run around. It is summer time, kids are going to be playing outside their homes and we don’t want them to come across these areas, get injured or if a fire breaks out they would have to evacuate from their homes,” he adds. 

GFD urges the public to report suspicious dumping activity.

“If you see something, please say something. These illegal dumpsites do not just occur on their own. There has to be people out there that have seen people moving trash and items in and out of the area,” he said. 

Meantime, the Guam Environmental Protection Agency says the property belongs to the CHamoru Land Trust Commission. 

We'll have more next week as we continue to track this story.