WATCH: Longest Night Yet: Crews Battle Largest Fire in History of Cooks Landfill
By Cory Wayland
It was a long and grueling night for emergency crews as they fought what is being described as the largest fire in the history of the Cooks Landfill.
Teams from the Fire Department, the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), the Public Works Department, and the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) worked through the night and through the morning to contain the massive blaze, which broke out shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday in the main section of the landfill.
Videos circulating from the area show towering flames stretching across a wide expanse of the dump site, with thick smoke billowing into the night sky.
The scale of the fire forced multiple agencies to coordinate efforts to prevent it from spreading further.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire. However, the intensity and size of the blaze required sustained water operations and heavy equipment support to isolate and smother affected sections of the landfill.
Residents in nearby communities reported seeing bright flames from miles away, as emergency responders worked tirelessly to bring the situation under control.
Up to press time, containment efforts were ongoing, with authorities closely monitoring hotspots to prevent flare-ups.
Further updates are expected as investigations continue into the cause of what is now considered the most significant landfill fire ever recorded at Cooks.
This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2026/02/28/watch-longest-night-yet-crews-battle-largest-fire-in-history-of-cooks-landfill. © 2026 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.
About the author
Cory Wayland is the Social Media Co-ordinator at Antigua.News, where he manages digital content strategy, audience engagement, and real-time news publications across social platforms. With a keen eye for trending topics and a commitment to factual storytelling, Cory plays a key role in shaping the online voice of Antigua.News.
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